Systems and methods for multiple mode voice and data communications using intelligently bridged TDM and packet buses and methods for performing telephony and data functions using the same

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods by which voice/data communications may occur in multiple modes/protocols are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods are provided for multiple native mode/protocol voice and data transmissions and receptions with a computing system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a TDM bus and a packet bus, and multi-protocol framing engines. Such systems preferably include subsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail and other telephony functions, LAN hub and data router. In preferred embodiments, a TDM bus and a packet bus are intelligently bridged and managed, thereby enabling such multiple mode/protocol voice and data transmissions to be intelligently managed and controlled with a single, integrated system. A computer or other processor includes a local area network controller, which provides routing and hub(s) for one or more packet networks. The computer also is coupled to a buffer/framer, which serves to frame/deframe data to/from the computer from TDM bus. The buffer/framer includes a plurality of framer/deframer engines, supporting, for example, ATM and HDLC framing/deframing. The buffer/framer is coupled to the TDM bus by way of a switch/multiplexer, which includes the capability to intelligently map data traffic between the buffer/framer and the TDM bus to various slots of the TDM frames. Preferably, a DSP pool is coupled to buffer/framer in a manner to provide various signal processing and telecommunications support, such as dial tone generation, DTMF detection and the like. The TDM bus is coupled to a various line/station cards, serving to interface the TDM bus with telephone, facsimiles and other telecommunication devices, and also with a various digital and/or analog WAN network services.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/167,408,filed Oct. 6, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,465.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems and methods for transmittingand receiving voice and data in multiple modes, and more particularly tosystems and methods for multiple native mode voice and datatransmissions and receptions with a communications system having amulti-bus structure, including, for example, a time division multiplexed(“TDM”) bus, a packet bus, and a control bus, and multi-protocol framingengines, preferably including subsystem functions such as PBX, voicemail, file server, web server, communications server, telephony server,LAN hub and data router, and methods for performing telephony and datafunctions using the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Businesses, particularly small to medium size offices, typically have aneed for a variety of voice and data communications. For example, atypical office might have a dedicated fax machine, using a dedicated orshared telephone line, one or more telephone lines for voicecommunications, perhaps coupled to a central or distributed voice mailsystem(s), and one or more computers or computer networks, often coupledto telephone lines via one or more modems. Many offices now use theInternet in some form for business communications or research or thelike, often by way of a modem or modem pool coupled to individualcomputers.

Typically, such business communication needs have been fulfilled withpiecemeal technical solutions, typically from separate equipment andservice vendors, and with separate hardware, software and designconsiderations.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional small office communicationconfiguration. Voice communication system 1 typically is implemented byway of multiple analog trunks 16 from wide area network (“WAN”) 18. WAN18 often consists of a telecommunication network by way of a localtelephone company or other telecommunications service provider. Analogtrunks 16 may be directed through switching system 10, which may be aconventional PBX or similar telephone switch. Telephones 12 and voicemail system 14 are coupled to switching system 10. Often, dedicatedanalog line 16A is coupled to facsimile 44 for facsimile communications.

Data system 2 typically is implemented with a plurality of computers (orworkstations, etc.) 24 interconnected by way of packet network 26, whichmay be a standard Ethernet compliant network or other office network.Network 26 often is coupled to remote access server 32, which isconnected to one or more analog trunks 40, and which may include one ormore modems in a modem pool. Computers 24 may communicate with remotesystems via the modem pool of remote access server 32 over analog lines40 and WAN 42. Network 26 typically includes a connection to printer 22and file server 20. In more sophisticated systems, network 26 may becoupled to switching hub 28 and router 30, which is coupled to WAN 42over digital trunks 38. Data system 2 also may include a connectionbetween one or more of computers 24 to modem 36, which in term iscoupled to WAN 42 over dedicated analog trunk 40A.

Such a conventional system often is characterized by piecemeal equipmentand network solutions, limited or non-existent coordination andmanagement between voice system 1 and data system 2, non-optimized ornon-integrated equipment, and inefficient use of costly network services(telephone lines, data lines, etc.), such as duplicate and often idlephone and data network lines, often provided from multipleequipment/service providers. In general, such conventional systems areneither constructed nor operated in a manner to provide efficient andintegrated voice/data communications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is intended to address various disadvantages ofsuch conventional communication systems. The present invention providesvarious systems and methods, perhaps more succinctly a platform, bywhich voice and data communications may occur in multiple modes andvarious protocols, and more particularly systems and methods formultiple native mode voice and data transmissions and receptions with acommunications/computing system having a multi-bus structure, including,for example, a TDM bus, a packet bus and a control bus, andmulti-protocol framing engines, preferably including subsystem functionssuch as PBX, voice mail and other telephony functions, email and/or fileserver, Internet server, LAN hub and data router. With the presentinvention, a platform and various processes are provided in which a TDMbus and a packet bus are intelligently bridged and managed, therebyenabling such multiple mode/protocol voice and data transmissions to beintelligently managed and controlled with a single, integrated system.

In preferred embodiments, a computer or other processor includes a localarea network controller, which provides routing and hubs and/or switchesfor one or more packet networks. The computer also is coupled to amultiple buffer/framer, which serves to frame/deframe data to/from thecomputer from a TDM bus. The buffer/framer includes a plurality offramer/deframer engines, supporting, for example, ATM and HDLCframing/deframing, and raw buffering of voice data or the like. Thebuffer/framer is coupled to the TDM bus by way of a multiple port ormultiport switch/multiplexer, which includes the capability tointelligently map data traffic between the buffer/framer and the TDM busto various slots of the TDM frames. Preferably, a DSP pool is coupled toone or more switch/multiplexer ports and/or the buffer/framer in amanner to provide various signal processing and telecommunicationssupport, such as dial tone generation, DTMF detection and the like. TheTDM bus is coupled to various line/station cards, serving to interfacethe TDM bus with telephone, facsimiles and other telecommunicationdevices, and also with various digital and/or analog WAN networkservices. The present invention provides a platform by which processingfunctions may be switched to provide support for a wide-range ofnetwork, vendor and application services.

With the present invention, a full PBX-type telecommunication system maybe provided by way of the computer/processor and associated telephonyhardware and software. Functions such as voice mail, automatedattendant, call forwarding, hold, transfer, caller ID, conferencing andother telephony functions may be similarly provided. While supportingsuch telephony functions in their native mode primarily by way of theTDM bus, the computer/processor also supports concurrent packet datatransmissions over the LAN subsystem and packet bus(es). As needed toefficiently support various voice/data communications in the particularoffice/work environment, the buffer/framer and switch/multiplexerprovide a multi-protocol router functionality, enabling the TDM bustraffic and the packet bus traffic to be intelligently bridged andmanaged without degradation of each other, and without requiringtranslation or transcoding. With the present invention, the same WANservices may be intelligently managed and controlled for simultaneousvoice, video, and data traffic.

The computer/processor supports a variety of applications, such asremote configuration, management and back-up, bandwidth allocation andcontrol, least cost routing, voice over Internet Protocol (or “voiceover IP”), as well various telephony related applications. In certainpreferred embodiments, audio/video data streams, such as H.320 and H.323data streams, also are intelligently managed and controlled. In certainpreferred embodiments, management applications (such as the SNMPprotocol) enable the system to be remotely monitored and configured viaa web browser-type access.

In accordance with the present invention, various telephony and datafunctions useful in offices and other settings may be more convenientlyand efficiently performed, and various methods for performing telephonyand data functions are provided in accordance with various preferredembodiments of the present invention.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providesimultaneous voice, video and data communications with a single,integrated system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide anintelligently controlled and managed processor bridge between one ormore TDM buses and one or more packet buses.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anintegrated PBX, router and hub to support such simultaneous voice, videoand data communications.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide amulti-protocol buffer/framer and switch/multiplexer in order to providemulti-protocol routing and intelligent time slot mapping to the TDM bus,preferably including DSP resources coupled to the buffer/framer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide systems and methodsallowing a broad set of services and functions to co-exist in the samesystem, and leveraging shared resources while providing a high levelinterface and intelligence that allows for the shared resources to bedynamically allocated and re-allocated.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide variousmethods of performing telephony and data functions in novel and moreefficient ways, particularly in combination with the various preferredembodiments of systems in accordance with the present invention.

Other objects, features and advantages of the various embodiments of thepresent invention described herein will be apparent to those skilled inthe art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and other advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent by describing in detail the preferred embodimentsof the present invention with reference to the attached drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical, conventional office communicationsconfiguration;

FIG. 2 provides an overview of an office communications system inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating preferred embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3A illustrates communication buses in accordance with preferredembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 provides a software/hardware overview of an office communicationssystem in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 illustrates the use of services/bandwidth allocation ruletable(s) in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a general flow chart for controlling incoming andoutgoing calls in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary configuration algorithm for an officeattendant type program in accordance with preferred embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7A illustrates an exemplary arrangement of configuration options ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 8A to 8D illustrate exemplary windows in accordance with preferredembodiments of office attendant-type programs in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIGS. 9A to 9C illustrate windows for illustrating additionalfeatures/functions in accordance with preferred embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 10A to 10B illustrate preferred embodiments of net message windowsin accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 11A to 11E illustrate various embodiments of conference windows inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 13A to 13C illustrate preferred embodiments of video conferencingin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14 illustrates additional preferred embodiments of the presentinvention utilizing advanced call logging features;

FIG. 15 illustrates a window from a remote administration/configurationapplication/applet in accordance with preferred embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 16A illustrates a preferred exemplary embodiment of a chassis viewwindow in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 16B illustrates a window for configuration of T- 1 channels of aparticular communications system in accordance with preferredembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 16C illustrates a window for configuration of station ports of astation card in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 16D illustrates a window for configuration of analog trunks inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 16E illustrates a window for configuration of frame relay type WANresources in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 16F illustrates a window for configuration of network settings inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 17A illustrates various icons that may be presented to a remoteuser to perform remote diagnostics on the communication system inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 17B illustrates a window for providing a trunk monitoring functionin accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 17C illustrates a window for providing a link monitoring functionin accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 17D illustrates a window for providing a station monitoringfunction in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 17E illustrates a window for displaying trace information fromvarious software components, drivers, etc. in communications systems inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 17F illustrates a window for providing a first level of tracinginformation in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 17G illustrates a window for providing a second, higher level oftracing information in accordance with preferred embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 17H illustrates a window for selecting certain timing and modeinformation in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 18 illustrates a communication system in accordance with anotherpreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 illustrates a communication system in accordance with anotherpreferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 20 illustrates a backup communication module in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedisclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and/or substitutionsare possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the presentinvention. Specific reference is made to co-pending application Ser. No.09/055,072 for SYSTEM METHODS FOR MULTIPLE MODE VOICE AND DATACOMMUNICATIONS USING INTELLIGENTLY BRIDGED TDM AND PACKET BUSSES andapplication Ser. No. 09/055,036 for SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATINGVOLTAGES IN TELEPHONY STATION CARDS, both of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention,systems and methods are provided to enable voice, data, video and othercommunications to occur in an efficient and integrated manner,intelligently allocating and utilizing available communicationsresources. FIG. 2 provides an overview of such a system in accordancewith one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Communications system 50 provides an integrated system for controllingand managing communications such as in an office. Communications system50 communicates over ports 26 to file server 20, printer 22 and one ormore computers 24. Ports 26 typically includes a packet bus such asEthernet, “fast” Ethernet, ATM or other LAN technology (in otherembodiments, LAN technology, such as token ring, may be coupled to anappropriately configured port). Communications system 50 includesdevices for controlling ports 26, including controllers such as what areknown as a network interface controller (NIC), which may integrate amedia access controller (MAC) for control of and interface to ports 26.Connected to ports 26 may be a variety of devices, such as one or morefile servers 20, computers 24, printers 24 and other computing,peripheral or similar devices suitable for interconnection with ports26. Other network devices, such as routers, switches, bridges and thelike also may be connected to ports 26. In one preferred embodiment,ports 26 is an Ethernet-type LAN to which is connected a variety ofdevices as determined by the needs of the particular office/workenvironment. The present invention provides effective integration of thepacket data LAN and router-type functions with the telephony and serverfunctions, which enables unique operations and the initiation orcompletion of calls or transactions or the like, without having accessto traditional, dedicated devices, peripherals and communicationsservices.

It will be appreciated that communications system 50 also may implementhardware and software for additional network functions, which areincluded in alternative embodiments. Such network functions include, butare not limited to: name server, such as DNS (Domain Naming System,which is used in the Internet for translating names of host computersinto addresses) or WINS (Windows Internet Name Service, which is a nameresolution service that maps or resolves Windows networking computernames to IP addresses particularly in a routed environment); firewall(as is known in the art, a firewall is a hardware/software implementthat limits the exposure of a computing system such as communicationssystem 50 or computers coupled thereto to access from a computerexternal to the system, which may include a network level firewall orpacket filter that examines data traffic at the network protocol packetlevel, or an application-level firewall that examines data traffic atthe application level, such as FTP or file transfer protocol, email,etc.); proxy server (as is known in the art, a proxy server is a type offirewall that uses a process known as address translation to mapinternal user IP addresses to the IP address associated with the proxyserver firewall in order to provide extra security, etc.); DHCP (DynamicHost Configuration Protocol, which is a protocol which allows a serverto assign dynamically IP addresses to particular computers in real time,etc., which may support manual, automatic and/or dynamic addressassignment, which may be used to verify a particular computer'sidentity, temporarily assign it an IP address for a particular period oftime, and reclaim the IP address later for reassignment at theexpiration of the particular period of time, etc.); and/or email serveror gateway (which, as is known in the art, may be used to send andreceive emails and/or send and receive faxes for the computers connectedto the LAN or LANs, etc.).

Communications system 50 includes the functionality of what is known asa PBX (as will be described further). In preferred embodiments,communications system 50 is connected to a plurality oftelecommunication devices, such as telephones 12, facsimile 44 and othersuitable telecommunications devices and access and server functions(such as private voice mail, recording devices, WAN service interfacecards, etc.). What is important is that communications system 50 includeinterfaces for a plurality of telecommunications devices for theparticular and complete office/work environment and infrastructure.

Communications system 50 is coupled to WAN voice/data servicesnetwork(s) 58 through trunks 54. Voice/data services network(s) mayinclude private line, local or long distance carrier networks, Internet,intranet and/or any other current or future WAN-type network services.Trunks 54 may consist of high, medium or low speed digital and/or analoglines, either public or private, and in certain preferred embodimentsconsist of high speed dedicated resources such as what are known as T-1,PRI (Primary Rate ISDN), ATM, VDSL, HDSL, ADSL, wireless, cascade,proprietary and/or twisted pair analog lines from a local telephonecompany. What is important is that communications system 50 is coupledto WAN services, trunks and the like in a manner that the user, serviceprovider, administrator and/or algorithm has determined will provideadequate or required resources, on a cost-effective basis, for theparticular office/work environment and operating conditions.

In contrast to FIG. 1, the communications system of FIG. 2 provides anintegrated solution for voice and data communication services, to whichmay be connected the WAN network services and telecommunications,computing and other devices as determined by the particular office/workenvironment.

Referring to FIG. 3, various subsystems, components, buses and the likeof preferred embodiments of communications system 50 will be describedin greater detail.

Communications system 50 is controlled by host processor/systemresources 70, which in preferred embodiments include a computer powered,for example, by a commercially available or other microprocessor and anembedded and/or commercially available operating system. What isimportant is that processor/system resources 70 provide sufficientprocessing power, memory and storage resources (RAM, ROM, hard disk,magnetic or other storage, etc.), bus and other resources in order tocontrol the various subsystems and components as will be described. Inparticular, computer/system resources 70 enables automatic internalnegotiation, control and enabling of services and applications. Althoughnot expressly shown, processor/system resources 70 also may includeother components of a relatively high-end personal computer, workstationor server, such as a display device, keyboard, serial ports, parallelports, power supply and the like. The various subsystems and componentsof communications system 50 are intelligently controlled, managed andmonitored by processor/system resources 70. Processor/system resources70 provides system and server management software and the like, and aplatform for various server applications as described herein.

Host processor/system resources 70 is coupled to buffer/framer 72 viabus 84, which in preferred embodiments consists of a computer bus suchas what are known as a PCI bus or ISA bus (in other embodiments, othersuitable computer-type buses are utilized, which may include proprietarylocal buses). Buffer/framer 72 includes buffer 71 and preferablyincludes a plurality of multi-protocol framing/deframing engines, suchas for what are known as asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) or high-leveldata link control (HDLC) protocols, which may be synchronous orasynchronous. In other embodiments, other communication protocolframers/deframers are provided, as may be desired by the particularoffice/work environment. Buffer/framer 72 in certain preferredembodiments includes, for example, one or more ATM framers/deframers 73Aand one or more, and preferably a plurality of, HDLC framers/deframers73B. Although not expressly shown, buffer/framer 72 includes othercontrolling circuits (such as a slot mapping memory,multiplexers/demultiplexers, arbitration, control and other circuitry)such as, for example, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,018 to DeJager,et al. for “MULTI-PROTOCOL PACKET FRAMING OVER AN ISOCHRONOUS NETWORK,”which is hereby incorporated by reference. As will be described ingreater detail, buffer/framer 72 includes the capability to transfer rawor protocol-processed data, which may be mapped to particular slots ofTDM bus 78 and made available on different ports. Buffer/framer 72 iscontrolled by processor/system resources 70 as diagrammaticallyindicated by control line(s) 92 (control line(s) 92 may be implementedas part of a bus structure, such as bus 84). In preferred embodiments,processor/system resources 70 includes redundant disk or other storage,redundant power supplies and data back-up to magnetic or other media inorder to enhance fault tolerance of the system.

Processor/resources 70 also may be connected to DSP 76. DSP 76preferably consists of a single digital signal processor ormulti-digital signal processor resource pool, which serves to provide avariety of functions within communications system 50. In preferredembodiments, DSP 76 generates dial tones (such as for telephones 12),and also performs DTMF digit detection and decoding, echo cancellation,coding/decoding functions, voice conferencing, voice compression, voicerecognition and the like. In other embodiments, DSP 76 performs datacompression, transcoding, processing for voice communications using anInternet protocol (“IP”) or other voice over other network protocol orthe like. In general, DSP 76 provides a set of processing and memoryresources to support the various voice/data services controlled andmanaged by processor/resources 70. As illustrated by bus connection 84A,DSP 76 alternatively may be coupled directly to TDM bus 78.

Switch/multiplexer 74 communicates bidirectionally with buffer/framer 72and preferably with DSP 76, as illustrated, over bus 86.Switch/multiplexer 74 also communicates with TDM bus 78, as illustrated,over bus 90. TDM bus 78 preferably is a time division multiplexed bus asis known in the art (such as, for example, what is known as an MVIP ormulti-vendor integration protocol type bus, or what is known as anSCSA-type bus (SCSA is an acronym for Signal Computing SystemArchitecture)), and provides in certain preferred embodiments 256channels/slots per TDM frame (the present invention is not limited to asingle TDM bus; in alternative embodiments, more than one TDM bus orother types of TDM buses are utilized). TDM bus 78 allows communicationbetween devices on the bus by way of circuit switching techniques. Thistype of switching allows for simple and inexpensive communication ofvoice through, for example, what are known as pulse code modulation(“PCM”) techniques. Switch/multiplexer 74 preferably is implemented withone or more switching/serial time division multiplexing circuits, suchas, for example, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,541,921 to Swenson, et al.for “ISOCHRONOUS SERIAL TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXER,” which is herebyincorporated by reference. Switch/multiplexer 74, under control ofprocessor/system resources 70, provides the capability for variousvoice/data signals to be controllably switched to desired slots of TDMbus 78.

Coupled to TDM bus 78 are line, station, trunk, or other interface cards82. Cards 82 provide CODEC, line interface, off-hook detect and otherfunctions as are known in the art to support various telecommunicationdevices (such as telephones 12 and facsimile 44) and WAN-type networkservices (such as voice/data services 58) that are communicating withcommunications system 50 via TDM bus 78. In preferred embodiments cards82 provide points of termination for a plurality of telephones 12, oneor more facsimiles 44, and various T-1, PRI, ATM, analog and/or otherWAN-type network services as determined by the particular office/workenvironment. Cards 82, under control of processor/system resources 70,may include points of termination for emergency or backup telephoneservices and the like, such as in the event of a power failure or toprovide analog services in the event a dedicated resource such as a T-1is unavailable for some reason.

Communication system 50 also may include fax modem 75, which, undercontrol of processor/system resources 70, may process incoming/outgoingfacsimile transmissions. In the preferred embodiment, fax modem 75 iscoupled to TDM bus 78 as illustrated, although in other embodiments faxmodem 75 may be coupled in alternative arrangements, such as toswitch/multiplexer 74 and/or DSP 76.

Communication system 50 also may include available card slots on TDM bus78 for one or more module upgrades 77. Additional resources and/orfunctionality may be added to communication system 50 as needed by wayof module or line card upgrade(s) 77, or by, for example, the additionof one more cards such as ATM controller 79B and DSP 79C. Through theuse of such module upgrades or additional cards, etc., one or moreminimal configurations of communication system 50 may be provided, withadditional resources and/or functionality added by the insertion ofadditional cards to TDM bus 78. In accordance with preferred embodimentsof the present invention, software upgrades for processor/systemresources 70, or for other resources in the communications system, alsomay be applied.

Processor/system resources 70 also is coupled to one or more packetbuses, such as packet buses 80A and 80B, which may be through a bus suchas LAN bus 81. Effectively, packet buses 80A and 80B provide multiplehubs or switches to intercommunicate between one or more packetnetworks, which in preferred embodiments are Ethernet networks. Itshould be noted that the bus configuration of FIG. 3 may be considered“logical”, and in preferred embodiments the physical bus configurationmay be such that TDM bus 78 and packet buses 80A and/or 80B are part ofthe same physical bus. In such embodiments, packet buses 80A and/or 80Balso can intercommunicate directly with central resources (such asprocessor/system resources 70) as well as station cards and WAN cards(or any other cards) coupled to the TDM bus (this is illustrated in FIG.3 by card 79D, which is a card simultaneously inserted into/coupled toboth TDM bus 78 and packet bus 80A and which may comprise, for example,a combined LAN interface/functionality and central office (or other WANinterface) card. Such a combined interface card, which may support bothLAN and WAN functions (such as described elsewhere herein), enablessubstantial advantages over conventional systems.

Coupled to packet buses 80A and/or 80B are a variety of computing-typedevices, such as computers 24, printer 22, other computers, fileservers, backup or storage resources, other networks and the like.Processor/system resources 70, in software and/or hardware, provides aLAN/network subsystem, which includes routing and other relatedfunctions to support data communications to and from packet buses 80Aand/or 80B and TDM bus 78, etc., through several paths or methods.

In preferred embodiments, a more direct connection between packet bus80A and/or 80B may be established by way of embedded router or bridge83. Router/bridge 83 includes a CPU, TCP/IP controller, router, stack,Ethernet interface or other functionality as may be desired to coupleLAN bus 81 to, for example, one or more HDLC controllers 79A. Throughthe use of router/bridge 83, communications between packet buses 80A and80B may be accomplished while consuming minimal resources ofprocessor/system resources 70.

Referring now to FIG. 3A, additional aspects of preferred embodiments ofthe present invention will now be described.

As discussed in reference to FIG. 3, communications system 50 includesat least three (3) separate types of busses, e.g., TDM bus 78, packetbus 80A (or 80B), etc., and control bus 92, etc. In arranging suchdifferent busses, preferred embodiments of the present invention utilizean arrangement that desirably configures such busses into a passivebackplane that may be used to plug in various printed circuit boards,cards, etc.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, busses 92, 80A and 78 are physically arrangedas part of system bus 406. Bus 408 is provided, for example, to serve asa bus for a computer backplane, such as a personal or other computerincluded in processor/system resources 70 (e.g., a computer system bus,such as what are known as PCI or ISA buses, etc.). Various boards orcards, etc. 400A, 400B and 400C may be physically plugged into sockets402 and 404. Sockets 402 are provided for making electrical connectionto bus 408, and sockets 404 are provided for making electricalconnection to bus 406. It should be noted that, preferably, two rows ofsockets 402 and 404 are provided, with at least certain of sockets 402being positioned adjacent to and aligned with sockets 404. In thismanner, boards such as board 400A may be coupled to bus 406 through oneof sockets 404, board 400B may be coupled to both bus 406 and bus 408via one each of sockets 404 and 402, and board 400C may be coupled tobus 408 through one of sockets 402. In accordance with such embodiments,bus 406, which includes control bus 92, packet bus 80A, and TDM bus 78,may be coupled to boards that couple only to bus 406 and also boardsthat couple to both bus 406 and bus 408. As will be appreciated, aplurality of sockets and boards may be provided, with one or a pluralityof boards similar to board 400A, one or a plurality of boards similar toboard 400B, and/or one or a plurality of boards similar to board 400Cmay be desirably provided in communications system 50.

It also should be noted that, in preferred embodiments, bus 92 issimilar in form to a standard ISA or PCI bus (although preferablymodified/optimized for the particular implementation of communicationssystem 50) and provides desired control to the various components andsubsystems of communications system 50 (as described elsewhere herein).In addition, TDM bus 50 may consist of, for example, 256 channels at 64K bits/second. Packet bus 80A may support one or a plurality (e.g., 3,4, 5 or more) of ethernet or other packet buses, such as 100 M bit, fullduplex ethernet capability or similar functionality (although only onesuch bus in illustrated in FIG. 3A).

In accordance with such embodiments, boards may be conveniently coupledto bus 406 and/or 408, which facilitates manufacture, upgrade,maintenance, etc. of communications system 50. It also should be notedthat bus 408 may be, for example, an industry standard bus, such an ISAor PCI or similar bus, thereby enabling ready connection of availablePC-type boards to communications system 50 if so desired for theparticular application. Such a multi-backplane construction providessignificant advantages in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 provides a software/hardware overview of an office communicationssystem in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention. It should be noted that the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3,with appropriate software in processor/system resources 70, may providethe software/hardware described in connection with FIG. 4, as will beappreciated by those skilled in the art.

At the server applications level, various software applications may beprovided for operation in conjunction with the hardware illustrated, forexample, in FIG. 3. Such software applications may include what areknown as least cost routing (“LCR”), best quality of service (“BQOS”)and bandwidth (“B/W”) rules 21. LCR, BQOS and B/W rules 21 providetables, information, rules and/or algorithms by which data and voicecommunications may be allocated and/or controlled with respect to, forexample, the various types of voice/data network services that areavailable to communications system 50. Such information may include thecurrent cost of utilizing various resources (based on time of date,amount of usage, integrated amount of usage over some period of time,etc.), and also priority rules for the various types of communicationsprovided by communications system 50. For example, phone calls may beassigned a priority 1, facsimile calls a priority 2, VoIP calls apriority 3, facsimile over IP calls a priority 4, category 1 datacommunications a priority 5, and other data communications a priority 6.In preferred embodiments, the priority assignments may change by time ofday or month, and/or the priority assignments may be different withrespect to different network resources and the like.

Server encryption applications 23 may be provided in order to provideencryption or similar coding or processing of voice/data communicationsprocessed by communications system 50. VoIP gatekeeper 25 may beprovided to service and control voice over Internet protocol (“VoIP”)communications. As more specifically described below, various types ofVoIP communications may be effectively managed and controlled inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, such as,for example, a determination that acceptable conditions exist on theInternet for such communications. Directory 27 may be provided in orderto make various types of directory information available to users ofcommunications system 50. Directory information provided by directory 27may include names, telephone extensions, address or other personal orwork information regarding persons or departments, etc., serviced bycommunications system 50. Directory 27 also may include similardirectory type information for persons or departments, etc. in a remoteor other locations, such as may be accessed through voice/data services58.

In general, with the present invention other applications 29 may beprovided to support various types of communications in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention.

Intelligent/dynamic B/W, service and resource management 31 is providedto effectively and efficiently control and allocate and de-allocateservices and communications resources, such as in accordance with LCR,BQOS, B/W rules 21 (e.g., rules to enable lowest cost, highest qualityor otherwise desirable management and control of network or otherresources, etc.) or other applications 29 or the like. B/W management 31also receives as inputs information indicating the total number andtypes of network resources (of voice/data services 58, for example) thatare available to communications system 50, and their status andavailability at any given point in time. B/W management 31 may receiveas an input, or may generate internally, information indicating how muchof a measured usage resource may be available at a given point in time(for example, “frame relay,” “private virtual channel” or other networkservices may be provided on the basis of a predetermined amount of datatransmission per fixed time period for a fixed price, with additionalcharges for usage in excess of the predetermined amount, etc.). As morefully described below, based on the currently available and currentlyutilized services and resources, B/W management 31 may allocate andde-allocate such services and resources in a desired and/or costefficient manner.

Services 37, which may be supported by database storage 35 (which may beprovided as a part of processor/system resources 70), include dataswitching services, router services and PBX station services. Ingeneral, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, and utilizing resources such as described in connection withFIG. 3, various communication-related services may be advantageouslysupplied by communications system 50.

For example, data switching services may be provided such as byLAN/NDIS/DDI drivers 39 (LAN, NDIS and DDI being exemplary) throughhardware modules such as switched Ethernet 45 and hub 47. Routingservices may be provided such as through WAN drivers (specific networkservices such as PRI and T-1 being exemplary) through hardware modulessuch as T-1 module(s) 49, ISDN module(s) 51, central office-plain oldtelephone service (CO-POTS) module(s) 53, V.35 module(s) (it should beunderstood that various hardware modules may be utilized in accordancewith preferred embodiments of the present invention, as desired toimplement the various data switching, routing and other communicationsconnections as may be determined by the needs of the particularoffice/work environment). PBX station services, such as automatedattendant, reception, voice mail and the like, may be provided throughstation manager 43. Station manager 43 provides hardware for connectionto various telecommunications devices, such as phones 12, facsimile 44,etc. In general, station manager 43 provides sufficient interfacehardware in order to connect to the various devices that may bedetermined by the needs of the particular office/work environment.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a general flow chart will be described forillustrating the use of services/bandwidth allocation rules inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Server applications, such LCR, BQOS, B/W rules 21, may be considered tohave various rule sets, such as voice rules 93, data rules 95 anddial-up rules 97 (other rule sets may be provided). Communicationssystem 50 monitors inputs (illustrated as monitor inputs block 91 ofFIG. 5), and based on such inputs and the overall service/networkresources available, and in accordance with voice rules 93, data rules95 and dial-up rules 97, allocates and de-allocates resources(illustrated as allocate/re-allocate resources block 99 of FIG. 5).

Exemplary operations of such preferred embodiments will now bedescribed.

In the event a user picks up one of telephones 12, an off-hook conditionis detected by the appropriate card 82, which signals processor/systemresources 70 of the off-condition. Processor/system resources 70controls switch/multiplexer 74 to couple the appropriate card 82 to DSP76, which generates a dial tone that is coupled to the appropriatetelephone 12. The user hears the dial tone and may then proceed to placethe desired call. DSP 76 detects the digits of the telephone number ofthe desired call and provides the detected digits to processor/systemresources 70. For an internal call, processor/system resources 70directs that the called internal telephone receive a ring signal fromthe appropriate card 82. Upon pick-up of the called internal telephone,the telephone connection between the internal phones is established byway of TDM bus 78 and the appropriate cards 82.

For an external call, processor/system resources 70 attempts toestablish the desired connection through the appropriate cards 82 andavailable voice/data services 58. In attempting to establish such avoice communication connection, processor/system resources preferablyfollows the general flow illustrated in FIG. 5. Namely, in accordancewith available resources (such as of voice/data services 58) and rulessuch as voice rules 93, data rules 95, dial-up rules 97, etc., anexternal voice communication may be established by, for example, a POTSline connection, an ISDN B channel, a VoIP connection, etc. Inaccordance with the present invention, resources may be allocated forthe processing of such an external call based on the available resourcesat the particular time and applicable rules (which may include time ofday, priority of call, etc.)

Incoming calls are detected by the appropriate cards 82 and signaled toprocessor/system resources 70. Connections of voice incoming calls totelephones 12 are established under control of processor/systemresources 70 over TDM bus 78.

Still additional operational advantages and features in accordance withstill additional preferred embodiments of the present invention will nowbe described.

PBX and Telephony-Related Functions

With the hardware of preferred embodiments as illustrated in FIG. 3,various novel and/or improved or more efficient communications functionsmay be obtained. As noted in FIG. 2, with the present invention aplurality of workstations or computers 24 may be connected tocommunications system 50. Although only a single LAN is illustrated inFIG. 2, as illustrated in FIG. 3 two or more LANs may be coupled tocommunications system 50, with a plurality of computers coupled to eachof the two or more LANs, etc.

In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, oneor more of computers 24 may execute a PBX/telephony control applicationsoftware program. In accordance with the PBX/telephony controlapplication, hereinafter referred to as the “office attendant type”program, control of the telephony and related functions ofcommunications system 50 may be intelligently managed and controlled.With such an arrangement, one or more computers on the LAN may be usedto control incoming and outgoing calls of the office using the computerin a natural and intuitive manner. A telephony headset or telephonepreferably is associated with the particular computer that will berunning the office attendant type program to enable traditional voicecommunications with incoming callers, etc.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, a party desiring to control the incoming andoutgoing calls and/or station to station calls of the office (“attendant1”) may log-on and run the office attendant type program from one of thecomputers connected to the LAN connected to communications system 50. Atstep 100, attendant 1 may be required to enter an appropriate username/ID and password in order to recognize attendant 1 as an appropriateuser to assume control of the telephony functions of the office. Anetwork or systems administrator may set up password control for partiesauthorized to run the office attendant type program. At step 102, inpreferred embodiments the computer running office attendant type programhas downloaded to it the current telephone subscriber directory such asover packet bus 80A or 80B of FIG. 3 (e.g.: a complete listing of thetelephone subscribers; extensions; status information such as do notdisturb, forward and forwarding information, forward to voice mail, huntgroup information, etc.) from communications system 50. In this manner,the computer or computers running the office attendant type program maylocally contain current subscriber information for controlling theincoming and outgoing calls of the office. In preferred embodiments,communications system 50 automatically determines when subscriberinformation changes, e.g., a subscriber has been added to or deletedfrom the telephone directory, or an extension has changed, or asubscriber's status information has changed, or any state associatedwith communications system 50, etc., in order that updates may be timelymade available. In such embodiments, computers running the officeattendant type program may be updated promptly and automatically bycommunications system 50 so as to contain current subscriber informationon an ongoing basis to more efficiently control telephony operations ofthe office. It also should be noted that in preferred embodiments thesubscriber information also may include other information, such as theemail address and extended directory information including personalinformation manager (“PIM”) information of the particular subscriber andnetwork identification for a computer associated with the particularsubscriber. With such information, net messages or other communicationswith particular subscribers may be facilitated as more fully describedherein.

It also should be noted that this subscriber download concept isapplicable in various forms to all computers coupled to communicationssystem 50. For example, communications system 50 includes informationregarding all users registered in the PBX (i.e., all users having atelephone extension and/or computer coupled to communications system 50such as over the LAN or WAN). Thus, in the event of a subscriberdirectory change, communications system 50 may “broadcast” updatedsubscriber directory information to all computers coupled tocommunications system 50, or, in alternate embodiments, communicationssystem 50 sends a net message, email or other message to such computerscoupled to communications system 50 that prompts the users of suchcomputers to the availability of the subscriber directory update (e.g.,the remote computers receive a message indicating the availability ofthe subscriber directory update, which preferably includes an “accept”icon and a “reject” icon, thereby enabling the user to receive or notreceive the update as he/she may desire).

This concept may be extended to system speed dial buttons (as describedelsewhere herein), and other information that may be desirablycontrolled and distributed in/from a central location (e.g.,communications system 50) in a particular office setting. For example, acompany organization chart, financial reports, informational reports,etc. may be centrally stored, etc., which may include being maintainedby a system administrator-type person for communications system 50. Inaccordance with such embodiments, centrally-controlled information maybe broadcast to all users, or a selected subset of such users(communications system 50 also preferably accesses/stores informationregarding the registered users, such as title, department, positionwithin the company; e.g., Vice President, engineering department, salesand marketing department, etc.). Thus, a centrally-maintaineddocument/file, such as a company organization chart, financial report,etc., may be conveniently distributed to computers coupled tocommunications system 50. Preferably, communications system 50 recordswhich computers receive such information (for example, a record of thosecomputers logged-on and receiving the information at the time it isfirst distributed), and thereafter may distribute the information toother computers at a later time (for example, at a later time when theusers of such computers log-on to communications system 50). Asdescribed previously, such embodiments also may prompt the individualusers whether they wish to receive the information, and thereafterprovide the information to those computers whose users affirmativelyindicate that they desire to receive the information.

In step 104, the computer running the office attendant type programoptionally may run a configuration routine to more optimally configurethe office attendant type program on the particular computer for controlof the telephony operations. At step 106, the computer running theoffice attendant type program is in a ready condition for processingincoming or outgoing calls or the like.

Referring to FIG. 7, an exemplary configuration algorithm for an officeattendant type program will now be described. At step 108, the userselects a configuration icon or otherwise initiates a configurationcommand on the computer running the office attendant type program. Atstep 110, the office attendant type program displays a choice ofconfiguration options. FIG. 7 illustrates options such as passwordchange option 112, contact or personal information manager (“PIM”)import option 114, user interface configuration option 116 and otheroption 118 (other option 118 indicates other configuration options thatmay be presented to the user to more optimally configure the officeattendant-type program for the particular user or operating environment,etc). At step 120, the computer running the office attendant typeprogram has completed the configuration process and is in a readycondition for processing incoming or outgoing calls or the like.

An exemplary arrangement of configuration options for such aconfiguration algorithm is illustrated in FIG. 7A. As illustrated, byconfiguration window 111, a user may be presented with configurationwindows such as user interface configuration window 113, contact or PIMimport window 117 or password control window 121. As an illustrativeexample, user interface window 113 may include icon 115 for displayingmenus or windows for tailoring the user interface for the particularuser and operational parameters; exemplary user interface optionsinclude user selectable tones, sounds, or volumes for indicate incomingcalls, line status conditions, programmable call capacity before routingcalls to another computer running an office attendant-type program or toan automated call answering algorithm of communications system 50,visual display options to vary the computer display (such as size, colorof icons or background, etc.) of the screens of the particular officeattendant type program, etc. What is important is that a particular userrunning an office attendant-type program on a particular computer mayconfigure user interface-type attributes to more optimally configure thecomputer that the user will use to control the incoming and outgoingcalls of the office, etc. It should be noted that, although othercomputers coupled to communications system 50 may simultaneously berunning an office attendant-type program, each such computer inpreferred embodiments may be independently configured to be more optimumfor the particular computer users.

Other configuration windows illustrated in FIG. 7A include contact orPIM import window 117 and password control window 121. PIM import window117 may include icon 119 for displaying menus or windows for importingcontact information from a PIM-type software program or database. Inaccordance with such embodiments, contact information to be used by theuser running the office attendant type program may be readily importedfrom a PIM-type information database or contact list (which may beresident on the particular computer, in communications system 50 or onanother computer coupled to a LAN), thus saving the time from enteringcontacts from a manual or electronic list. Password control window 121may include icon 123 for displaying menus or windows for enabling theuser to change his/her password. In preferred embodiments, the officeattendant-type program(s) used to control telephony functions ofcommunications system 50 utilizes password protection to preventdatabase tampering and the like and also to prevent unauthorized use ofthe office attendant-type program(s).

Referring now to FIGS. 8A to 8D, exemplary windows from illustrativepreferred embodiments of office attendant-type programs in accordancewith the present invention will now be described. As illustrated in FIG.8A window 130 includes one or more line displays 132 (five are shown inFIG. 8A for illustrative purposes) for indicating various telephonelines available in the particular application of communications system50. The number of telephone lines, of course, may be tailored for theparticular application. Preferably positioned adjacent to line displays132 is call/line status display 148 for displaying symbols adjacent toeach line indicative of the status of the line, such as idle, phoneringing, active call in progress, call on hold, hold recall alert, etc.Status display 148 provides a ready visual indicator to the user of theoffice attendant-type program of the status of the various telephonelines that are being monitored. Also adjacent to the line displays (asillustrated adjacent to status display 148) are user identificationdisplays 150, which serve to display the name and/or extension ortelephone number of one or both parties to a call. In certainembodiments, caller ID type information may be obtained bycommunications system 50 from an appropriate interface card (seeinterface cards 82 of FIG. 3) and also displayed on displays 150.Displays 150 also may display a clock indicating the duration of a callon a particular line.

In preferred embodiments, window 130 also includes calling featurebuttons or icons such as dialpad icon 134, feature icon 136, system icon138 and/or contacts icon 140. Other icons may include call log icon 142and/or configuration icon 144. Dialpad icon 134 preferably results inthe display of a dialpad, such as dialpad window 165 in the lower leftcomer of window 130. Feature icon 136 preferably results in the displayof a set of feature buttons as will be described in connection with FIG.8B. System icon 138 preferably results in the display of a set of systembuttons as will be described in connection with FIG. 8C. Contact icon140 preferably results in the display of a list of contacts/contactfolders as will be described in connection with FIG. 8D. Call log icon142 preferably results in the display of one or more windows displayinglog-type information for incoming or outgoing calls controlled by theoffice attendant type program. Call log information may be retained onthe particular computer running the office attendant type program and/orcentrally stored by communications system 50. Configuration icon 144prompts one or more configuration windows, examples of which have beendescribed elsewhere herein. Help icon 146 also may be provided in orderto display help information to the user of the office attendant-typeprogram.

In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, holdicon 180 is provided to enable a caller to be readily put on hold by theoffice attendant type program user. Transfer icon 178 is provided toenable a caller to be readily transferred by the office attendant typeprogram user (transfer operations are discussed in more detail inconnection with FIGS. 9A through 9C). Hangup icon 176 is provided toenable a caller to be readily disconnected by the office attendant typeprogram user. Net message icon 174 is provided to enable a net messageto be sent by the office attendant type program user (net messages arediscussed in more detail in connection with FIGS. 10A and 10B).Conference icon 172 is provided to enable conferences to be establishedby the office attendant type program user (conferences are discussed inmore detail in connection with FIGS. 11A through 11E). Answer next icon170 is provided to enable the office attendant type program user tosequentially answer calls, such as, for example, in a situation in whichnumerous calls have come in a short period of time, and the user wishesto sequentially access such calls. Preferably, the answer next iconprioritizes calls on hold higher than new calls, although in preferredembodiments the priority of hold calls versus new calls may beprogrammed into communications system 50.

Dialpad window 165, accessed in response to activation of dialpad icon134, displays a visual keypad, much like a traditional telephony keypadwith buttons 164, and also preferably includes other buttons such ascall button 168 (for initiating calls), clear button 166 (for clearingnumber or information, such as subscriber information, displayed ondisplay 162 (display 162 also may used to input numeric or characterinformation such as for a subscriber, and also may have a menu pull-downicon as illustrated to display a menu of, for example, subscriberinformation), personal button 156 (which may be used, for example, tomake personal contact or PIM information available in display 162),system button 160 (which may be used, for example, to make systemcontact information available in display 162), or both button 158 (whichmay be used, for example, to make both personal contact or PIMinformation and system contact information available in display 162).

Referring now to FIG. 8B, window 182 is illustrated with feature box 184shown, which may be displayed through the use of feature icon 136.Feature box 184 includes one or more configurable feature buttons 186.Such feature buttons enable a configurable environment for the officeattendant type program user, by enabling particular tasks to beconfigured for particular feature buttons. As illustrative examples,such task/features may include dialing particular calls, forwardingcalls to another extension, transferring calls to another extension,unforwarding calls, setting do not disturb for particular extensions,dialing international or special toll calls or the like, or other tasksthat a particular user may find desirable to have accessible with asingle or very few clicks of the computer mouse or pointer. Theparticular feature buttons preferably include textual informationdescriptive of the particular feature or task associated with thedisplayed button. In preferred embodiments, feature buttons may be addedor deleted as desired by the particular user.

Referring now to FIG. 8C, window 188 is illustrated with system box 190shown, which may be displayed through the use of system icon 138. Inpreferred embodiments, system box 190 includes a plurality of systembuttons 192, which provide essential contacts, such as emergency numbers(e.g., police or fire or building security), the numbers particular todepartments or officers in the particular company, branch officenumbers, etc. With the use of system box 190, a user may have readilydisplayed the numbers of essential or important contacts, which may beconnected with a single click of the computer mouse or pointer. Thenumbers or contacts associated with particular system buttons may beprogrammed by the user, but more preferably are programmed by theadministrator of communications system 50 and downloaded in a mannersimilar to the subscriber information as previously described.

Referring now to FIG. 8D, window 194 is illustrated with contacts box196 shown, which may be displayed through the use of contacts icon 140.Contact box 196 preferably includes a directory of contacts for thecompany of the user (illustrated generally as folder and contact tree198), and also preferably contact or PIM-type information that may beobtained by importing from a PIM-type program or database resident incommunications system 50 or on one or more of the computers coupled tocommunications system 50. Through the use of contacts icon 140 andcontact box 196, contact information may be quickly provided to theoffice attendant type program user with a single or very few clicks ofthe computer mouse or pointer. In alternative embodiments, caller IDinformation is available to communications system 50, which may be madeavailable to the office attendant-type program. In such embodiments, theoffice attendant-type program or a companion program may associate acontact with the caller ID information, and thereafter display contactinformation to the user.

In preferred embodiments, calls may be directed to the computer runningthe office attendant type program because a main number has beendirected to this computer (and its associated telephone or headset), orbecause calls have been forwarded to the office attendant type program,or because a called party is on the phone, has indicated the calledextension is “do not disturb,” etc. In such situations, the officeattendant type program user may need to transfer calls to otherextensions, either inside the office or outside the office.

Preferably, persons in the office have a computer running a program incompanion with the office attendant-type program. Such windows mayinclude, for example, an animated icon, caller ID information, etc., andmay include one or more icons the clicking of which causes the call tobe answered. In such preferred embodiments, the office attendant typeprogram may cause one or more windows to appear on the computers ofparticular persons in the office, such as a person to whom a call isbeing directed. As an illustrative example, a call may come in throughWAN services network 58 (see, e.g., FIG. 3) and be directed to a maintelephone number, which may be designated to be forwarded to a telephoneassociated with a person running the office attendant type program on aparticular computer 24, and may be so directed by way of TDM bus 78 andswitch/multiplexer 74, under control of processor/system resources 70.The computer 24 running the office attendant type program may be used totransfer the incoming call to a particular extension, which may bereadily accomplished by way of transfer icon 178 (see FIG. 8A).

FIG. 9A illustrates window 200, which may provide a list of subscribersand extensions 202. By selecting a particular subscriber with a mouse orpointer, the transfer may be readily completed with a simple click ofthe mouse or pointer on transfer icon 204. Alternatively, the transferoperation may be canceled by a click of the mouse or pointer on cancelicon 206. It should be noted that, because the current subscriberinformation has been downloaded by communications systems 50 (asdescribed elsewhere herein), more reliable transfer of calls may beachieved in accordance with the present invention.

In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, inthe event of a failed transfer, for example in case the extension towhich the call is being transferred is busy, a window preferably isautomatically displayed on the computer running the office attendanttype program. An exemplary window 208 is illustrated in FIG. 9B. Asillustrated, display 210 may display a descriptive message, such as“line busy,” “do not disturb,” etc. Preferably, a number of icons alsoare simultaneously displayed to aid the office attendant type programuser in processing this call. Hold icon 212 may be used to place thecaller on hold. Message icon 214 may be used to initiate a net messageto the party to whom the call is to be transferred. Voice mail icon 216may be used to direct the call into the voice mail of the party to whomthe call was to be transferred. Cancel icon 218 may be used to cancelthe transfer operation. With such an automatically generated window 208,the office attendant type program user is presented with options to morequickly process such calls, again preferably with a single or very fewclicks of the mouse or pointer.

In certain embodiments, activation of hold icon 212 automatically“parks” the call on the extension of the party to whom the call is to betransferred. In certain embodiments, particular subscribers may have theoption to program their extension so that calls parked on theirextension may or may not be automatically connected once the calledparty has completed its current call. In such embodiments, it may bedesirable to have the called party informed that a call is being held.Preferably in such embodiments, the office attendant type program may beconfigured to automatically send a message (over a packet bus, asdescribed earlier) to the computer of the party to whom the call is tobe transferred, such as is illustrated by window 220 in FIG. 9C. In suchembodiments, window 220 may contain message box 222, which may contain amessage such as “call holding” or “call holding from Mike at extension226,” or “call holding; outside caller, number xxx,” etc. What isimportant is that message box 222 display a message that a call isholding, with appropriate information identifying the caller displayedto the extent possible or desired. It should be noted that in certainembodiments caller ID information is displayed, and in some suchembodiments a directory or library of names or other identifyinginformation may be contained in communications system 50 and/or one ormore of the computers connected to the LAN so that names or otheridentifying information may be associated with the caller ID informationand displayed in message box 222. Preferably, the computer of the calledparty plays an audible tone or sound.

In such embodiments, the called party may decide to terminate his/herexisting call and accept the call from the party being transferred, suchas by clicking on accept icon 224. Alternatively, the called party maydecide to have the call from the party being transferred wait, such asby clicking on wait icon 226. The particular user being calledpreferably has the option to configure his extension to accept parkedcalls or to not accept parked calls. The particular user also preferablyhas the option to select an allowed parking time before the call isreturned to the user running the office attendant type program. Thus, atransferred call may be temporarily parked, with an appropriate messagedisplayed on the computer of the called party, with the parked calleither accepted by the called party clicking on accept icon 224,returned to the user running the office attendant type program orforwarded to voice mail after a parking time out time has elapsed, orthe call held longer than the allowed parking time by the called partyclicking on wait icon 226. In certain embodiments, clicking on wait icon226 enables the call to be parked indefinitely, while in otherembodiments a second, longer and preferably user configurable parkingtime is enabled (thus preventing a called from being held for anindefinite period of time). If a time out time is exceeded, preferablythe call is returned to the user running the office attendant typeprogram or forwarded to voice mail, and still preferably an audible toneor sound is periodically emanated from the computer of the called partywhile the call is parked, thereby providing a subtle reminder of theexistence of the parked call. In certain embodiments, users have theability to mute or lower the volume of the reminder sound, such as byway of an additional icon in window 220. In all preferred embodiments,users have the ability to configure and select the particular optionsdescribed herein that the particular users may desire.

It should be noted that a window 208 may be displayed in response to atransferred call being returned to the user running the office attendanttype program, or it or a similar window may be displayed in response tothe user running the office attendant type program “looking ahead” tothe status of the extension to which the call is to be transferred. Whatis important is that the user running the office attendant type programdetermine that the transfer may not be accomplished, and then optimallybe provided with options for processing the call in an expedient manner,such as described elsewhere herein.

It should also be noted that, in the event of a particular userextension being dialed directly without going through the officeattendant type program, a window such as window 220 of FIG. 9C may bedisplayed on the computer of the called party, either automatically forall calls, or only in the event that the called party has put histelephone on do not disturb, but has configured his extension to receivea message notification of calls, or in the event that the called partyis on the line. In such embodiments, communications system 50 maygenerate such a window by a suitable message sent over by packet bus tothe user's computer. In such embodiments, communications system 50 maysimultaneously ring a user's extension and notify the user of the callwith a net message, with the call being accepted, parked or forwarded tovoice mail such as described earlier. Of course, in the event that auser previously configured his extension to be automatically forwardedto another extension or location or to voice mail or the like, thencommunications system 50 preferably takes the programmed actiondirectly. As an illustrative example, a user may configure his extensionso as to route all calls to another extension or to a local or longdistance telephone number. Such a user also may configure his extensionso as to route all calls as voice over IP (“VoIP”) calls. In the latersituation, processor/system resources 70 and/or DSP 76 may process theincoming voice information (received through the appropriate stationcard 82 and via TDM bus 78, etc.) into appropriate IP packets, which maythen be routed, for example, through an HDLC framer/deframer 73B,through switch/multiplexer 74, over TDM bus 78 and out over a designatedIP connection via WAN services 58, etc.

As previously described in connection with FIGS. 8A and 9B, a userrunning the office attendant type program preferably is presented withicon 174 (FIG. 8A) and icon 214 (FIG. 9B) for generating net messages,such as to send a net message to a user to whom a call is to betransferred, or to otherwise send a net message to a particular user,etc. FIG. 10A illustrates window 230 as an exemplary net message windowthat may be generated in response to clicking icon 174 or 214. Asillustrated, window 230 preferably includes box 232 to identify therecipient of the intended net message, which may be automaticallyselected by the office attendant type program in the event of a failedcall transfer situation. Otherwise, the recipient may be selected bypull-down menu as illustrated, or by direct entry of a name or extensionnumber, etc. In preferred embodiments, as letters of the name is typed,the office attendant type program automatically scrolls through thesubscriber directory in order to more quickly arrive at the desired netmessage recipient.

Box 234 is provided in order for the office attendant type program userto type a desired net message. In alternative embodiments, a list ofpre-generated net messages are available via a pull down menu or windowopened with an icon or the like (such pre-generated messages may includewhole or partial messages, greetings, etc. that are frequency utilized,thereby saving the user from having to type a repetitive message, etc.).The net message may be sent by clicking on send icon 236 or canceled byclicking on cancel icon 238. It should be noted that the net messagerecipient may be a user physically located in the same office andreceive the net message by way of packet bus 80A or 80B (see FIG. 3),or, alternatively, the net message may be sent as Internet or othermessage by way of TCP/IP through modem 75 or through the WAN servicesnetwork 58 (e.g., a T1 connection) by passing through an HDLC framer73B, such as was described with reference to FIG. 3. Thus, in thesituation in which a particular user is “off-premises,” calls may beforwarded off-premises (by appropriate programming of the particularuser's extension, as described elsewhere herein), and net messageslikewise may be forwarded off-premises.

FIG. 10B illustrates net message window 240 that may appear on thecomputer of the recipient. The recipient is presented with the netmessage in window 242, and may close the net message by clicking icon244. Alternatively, net messages may be stored for archival purposes orlater viewing, and in alternative embodiments net messages also includea reply icon which may be clicked in order to bring up a window in whicha reply message may be typed. In such embodiments, an office attendanttype program user may inform the recipient, for example, of a particularcaller, and the recipient may inform the office attendant type programuser, for example, that the caller should be directed to a particularindividual or department or processed in a particular way (directly tovoice mail, call terminated, etc.). With such embodiments, packet bus orother messages may be readily exchanged in a manner to more readilyfacilitate telephony management, etc.

In alternate embodiments, net messages may be sent from a computerrunning an office attendant-type program or a companion program, to anyother computer coupled to communications system 50, either by way of theLAN or WAN, etc. In such embodiments, for example, if the user to whom amessage is directed is logged onto communications system 50, the netmessage may be sent (preferably via communications system 50) either asa net message as previously described, or in the form of a visual “pinkslip,” “yellow sticky note,” etc., which preferably appears in a smallwindow on the screen of the user/message recipient. Still preferably,such “pink slip” or “yellow sticky note” messages include icons foroptions such as reply, delete, file/store, minimize, etc.; preferably,after a reply, delete, and/or file/store command, the message windowautomatically disappears. In certain embodiments, if a plurality of suchmessages are received and have not been processed so as to disappear,then such messages automatically stack up, with a visual representationof stacked messages presented to the user (e.g., showing a thirddimension of a stack of messages, etc.). In such embodiments, the userpreferably sees the most recently received message on top, and also hasthe option to freeze/hold the updating of the message stack such as byselecting a suitable icon (e.g., if the user is reading a particularmessage, he/she may command that the message being read is not replacedby a subsequently received message), scroll through the stack ofmessages, etc. Still preferably, the user may select (again by suitableicon) that a particular message be forwarded to himself/herself asemail, or to another person either as a similar message or email, etc.In preferred embodiments, communications system 50 automatically storesand sends as email all such messages that are not processed in adefinitive manner by the user (e.g., if the user logs off without havingreplied, deleted, stored, etc. such messages, then communications system50 processes such unclosed messages as emails to the particular user orusers, etc.).

It also should be noted that a sender of a net message may be promptedthat a particular user to whom a net message is being directed is notlogged on. In such embodiments, the sender may then be prompted (such aswith a suitable information display and icon) to convert the net messageto an email message, etc.

As illustrated in FIG. 8A, conference icon 172 may be utilized toinitiate a conference call in accordance with certain preferredembodiments of the present invention. Certain conferencing preferredembodiments of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 11A through 11E.

As indicated, conference icon 172 may be utilized to initiate aconference call in accordance with the present invention. Alternatively,in other preferred embodiments the conference call may be initiated by aclick and drag operation. For example, an icon indicating a receivedcall or the status of a received call (such as described earlier) may beclicked and dragged over the opened dialpad (see, e.g., FIG. 8A). Theoffice attendant type program recognizes this click and drag operationas a request to open a suitable conference window, and the officeattendant type program thereafter automatically opens the conferencewindow.

FIG. 11A illustrates one embodiment of such a conference window 250. Asillustrated, conference window may include box 252, which may serve toindicate what calls, if any, are presently displayed on the officeattendant type program “console” (e.g., windows 150 of FIG. 8A). In theevent that calls are present on the console, such calls may be added tothe conference through the use of add icon 254. Attendees invited tojoin the conference may be displayed in window 260. Through the use oficon 256 one or more particular attendees may be selected with thepointer or mouse and removed from the conference call attendee list, andthrough the use of icon 258 all attendees may be removed from theconference call attendee list. Window 262 may serve to display attendeescurrently participating in the conference call in the event that window250 is opened while a conference call is in progress. Icon 264 may beused to call other parties in order to invite such parties toparticipate in the conference call, and icon 266 may be used to cancelthe add conference call attendees operation (i.e., close window 250).Icon 268 may be used to finish the add conference call attendeeoperation and preferably initiate or continue the conference call; inFIG. 11A icon 268 would be illustrated as not active given that multipleinvited attendees are not present and no conference call is on-going(and thus the conference cannot be initiated or continued).

In the event that icon 264 is selected, a call others operation may beinitiated. FIG. 11B illustrates one embodiment of window 270 for callingadditional attendees. As illustrated, window 270 preferably includesdialpad 272, which may be utilized to dial the extension or telephonenumber of a party to be added to the conference, which may be a partyeither on premises or off premises. Window 274 may be used to accesseither personal or system contact information, or both personal andsystem contact information, such as previously described. The names ofparticular subscribers may be entered or displayed in window 273, andthe extension or number of a particular party to be added to theconference may be entered or displayed in window 276. Additionalattendees may be added with icon 278 or removed with icon 280, with theadditional attendees identified in window 282, with attendees in theconference identified in window 284. The next icon 286 preferably may beused to proceed to a dialog box from which the additional attendees maybe called to join the conference. Selecting the finish icon 288preferably results in the conference commencing or continuing withoutproceeding to a call dialog box.

In the event that next icon 286 is selected, a call attendee dialog boxpreferably appears, with an exemplary dialog box illustrated in FIG.11C. As illustrated, window 290 includes call icon 294, which may beused to initiate a call to a particular selected additional attendee(who may be selected with the mouse or pointer in a conventionalmanner). Remove icon 292 may be used to remove additional attendees fromwindow 296. Preferably, each additional attendee is called and informedthat they are being added to the conference call; if the additionalattendee agrees to be added to the conference call, the call preferablyis placed on hold; otherwise the caller may hang up or be processed insome other desired manner. Once all additional attendees have beencontacted and placed on hold as desired, finish icon 300 may be selectedto initiate or continue the conference with the additional attendees.Back icon 299 may be use to return to the window illustrated in FIG. 11Bin order to add additional attendees, etc.

Preferably, as additional attendees are called, window 302 appears asillustrated in FIG. 11D. As illustrated, window 302 includes informationdisplay 304, which preferably displays the name and/or number of theadditional attendee being called, as well as the status of the call.Icon 306 may be used to hang up or terminate the call, while icon 308may be used to add the additional attendee to the conference call. Stillpreferably, an add conference attendee window is invoked, for example,if one call has been added to the conference and no other call is activeon the console, etc.

Still preferably, conference call monitor window 310 may be displayed bythe office attendant type program, as illustrated in FIG. 11E. Asillustrated, window 310 may include window 312 for displaying anidentification of all attendees participating in the conference call.From window 310 additional parties may be added to, or removed from, theexisting conference call. Icon 314 may be used to confirm that theexisting list of conference participants is acceptable. Icon 316 may beused to allow the party running office attendant to join as a party tothe conference call. Icon 318 may be used to add additional parties tothe conference call, such as a call that is existing on the console asillustrated in FIG. 8A (as an example, a call is received by the officeattendant program while the conference is in progress), or by adding anadditional attendee. Such operations to add additional attendeespreferably may be achieved as described earlier in connection with FIGS.11A through 11D. Icon 320 may be used to remove attendees from theconference call.

What should be noted is that, in accordance with the present invention,easy to use and intuitive graphical interfaces are provided to initiate,maintain and monitor conference calls in accordance with preferredembodiments of the present invention. Such embodiments preferably areimplemented utilizing communications system 50 as illustrated, forexample, in FIG. 3, which provides a exceptionally desirable platformfor managing voice and data communications while allowing a user to moreoptimally manage and/or participate in such conference calls.

Still other features in accordance with preferred embodiments of thepresent invention will be described with reference to FIG. 12. Asillustrated in FIG. 12, communications system 50 (which preferably maybe implemented as described in connection with FIG. 3) is coupled toone, two or more packet buses (such as packet buses 80A and 80B),connected to which may be a plurality of computers 24. One or morecomputers 24 may run an office attendant-type program, or alternativelya companion program to the office attendant-type program, such asdescribed elsewhere herein. As previously described, such computersrunning an office attendant-type program may be advantageously utilizedto manage and control incoming and outgoing calls in the office. Inaccordance with the present invention, for example, a first computer 24at a first physical location in the office (e.g., coupled tocommunications system 50 over a packet bus, for example) may bedesignated as the telephony control station for managing the incomingand outgoing calls. A second computer 24 at a second physical locationin the office (e.g., coupled to communications system 50 over the sameor a different packet bus, for example), may be designated as asecondary telephony control station. If the first telephony controlstation exceeds a designated call capacity (such as described earlier),or the first telephony control station goes off-line such as to due to alocal failure or due to the user of the first telephony control stationlogging off, etc. (such as going to lunch, going home for the day,etc.), the second telephony control station is ready to immediatelyassume control of managing the incoming and outgoing calls of theoffice. In accordance with such embodiments, control of the telephonyfunctions of the office may effectively be passed from computer tocomputer along the same packet bus or from a first computer connected toa first packet bus to a second computer connected to a second packetbus. Thus, telephony control may be efficiently transferred fromcomputer to computer in a flexible and desirable manner, which mayinclude computers at different locations within the office.

It also should be noted that an office attendant-type program also maybe run from a location remote from communications system 50, such as ona computer coupled to WAN services network 58 of FIG. 3. In suchembodiments, a remote computer coupled to communications system 50 overa WAN network connection may run the office attendant-type program andremotely control the telephony functions of the office, in a manner suchas described previously herein. Thus, control of telephony functions maybe effectively performed in the office or remotely from the office, withcontrol passed from computer to computer in an efficient and desiredmanner. Additionally, the user of the remote computer may run an officeattendant-type program or a companion program as described elsewhereherein, and from such remote location be coupled to communicationssystem 50 and remotely reconfigure the telephony and/or voice mailsettings for the particular user. As an example, the remote user may usethe remote computer in order to direct telephone calls to his/herextension to voice mail, or alternatively to have such calls forwardedto another extension or to a remote telephone number. With suchembodiments, particular users may remotely access communications system50 and, for example, control the forwarding of calls to an internal orremote location. As a particular example, a user using a notebookcomputer or PDA, etc., may couple to the Internet or WAN, etc., from aremote location, and direct that telephone calls to his/her officeextension be forwarded in a desired manner (e.g., off-premise callforwarding, etc.). With the user able to access communications system 50and remotely set and store PBX-type settings remotely, a variety ofdesired reconfiguration options are presented to the user.

Additional advanced PBX/telephony-type functions in accordance withother embodiments of the present invention will now be described.

In preferred embodiments, communications system 50 may dynamicallyassociate physical telephones 12 with particular user extension numbers.In certain respects, this may be considered like a “DHCP” (describedelsewhere herein) for physical telephones. For example, a systemadministration may run a configuration/administration program (such asdescribed elsewhere herein) and configure an extension number (e.g.,200) for a particular user, including associated parameters for suchuser, such as telephony and voice mail options (e.g., user forwardsettings, including off premise call forwarding, busy forward settings,ring-no-answer forward settings, time of day forward settings, displayname for telephones displaying caller names, etc., whether the telephoneis configured to be a telephone for a user running an officeattendant-type program, etc.). At this time, the system administratormay or may not assign a physical telephone to that extension.Thereafter, the system administrator may notify the user that his/herextension number is 200. The system administrator also has the abilityto enable and/or assign physical telephones. In the event that thesystem administrator has not assigned a physical telephone to that user,the user preferably has the ability to assign a physical telephone tohis/her extension. For example, the user may pick up a telephone thathas been enabled, and preferably does not have an extension assigned tothat telephone, and the user enters a special code, e.g., numbers thatcommunications system 50 recognizes as a request to assign a physicaltelephone. In certain embodiments, communications system 50 audiblyinforms (such as using DSP 76) the user of the status of that physicaltelephone (e.g., enabled or disabled, presently assigned to anextension, etc.). Thereafter, the user preferably is prompted audibly toenter his/her extension number. Optionally after a confirmation prompt,communications system 50 then assigns that physical telephone to theparticular user. Still optionally, if the particular user extension isalready assigned to another physical telephone, then communicationssystem 50 un-assigns the other physical telephone at the time a newphysical telephone is assigned to the particular user/user extension.

As will be appreciated, with such embodiments a special code also may beprovided to un-assign physical telephones from particular userextensions, which preferably is implemented with password protection forparticular users to ensure that the user's extension may not be assignedor re-assigned to physical telephones without the user's authorizationor control (e.g., after entry of the extension number, communicationssystem 50 prompts the user for a password associated with that userextension, and only allows assignment of a physical telephone to thatextension if the correct password is entered, etc.). Thus, a user mayassign his extension to a physical telephone by picking up thattelephone and entering appropriate commands via the telephone keypad,and may un-assign his/her extension from that physical telephone bysimilarly picking up the physical telephone and entering appropriatecommands via the telephone keypad (or by assigning the extension to adifferent physical telephone, as previously described), etc. Inaccordance with such embodiments, various office telephony arrangementsmay be implemented, such as an office arrangement in which a pluralityof cubicles, offices or other physical spaces are provided with physicaltelephones but are not assigned to particular users. In accordance withsuch embodiments, particular users may be assigned an extension, and mayoccupy an available physical space and assign the physical telephone inthat physical space with the user's extension. At the end of time foroccupying that physical space, the user may un-assign his/her extensionfrom that physical telephone, and then re-assign the extension toanother physical telephone when the user later occupies another physicalspace, etc.

Additionally, as previously described communications system 50 may serveas an email server or otherwise serve to distribute email to particularcomputers (such as computers 24) coupled to communications system 50.Thus, communications system 50 can store information indicating that aparticular user or users have received email. In such embodiments,communications system 50 preferably provides a visual or audioindication to the user that he/she has email. As illustrative examples,a special dial tone or message may be generated (such as with DSP 76)and presented to the user's telephone so that, when the user picks uphis/her telephone, the special dial tone or message alerts the user thathe/she has email (which also may include a special tone or messageindicating that the user has voice mail). As one example, the tone ormessage may be a particular sound, but preferably is an audible messagesuch as “you have email,” or “you have voice mail and email” or “youhave voice mail,” etc. In the event that communications system 50 isimplemented with telephones 12 having message indicator lamps, aparticular lamp or blinking sequence may be used to indicate that theuser has email, voice mail or both, etc. In all such embodiments, usersmay be desirably informed that they have email and/or voice mail withtheir telephony device (e.g., telephone).

As described elsewhere herein, communications system 50 may serve toprovide email services to particular users with telephone extensionsassociated with communications system 50, etc. In addition,communication system 50 also provides a platform (such as withprocessor/system resources 70) on which various management,administration or other types of applications may be run (exemplary suchapplications are described elsewhere herein). In one embodiment, variousWAN and other information is provided using what is known as a SNMP-typeprotocol; as is known in the art, SNMP stands for Signaling NetworkManagement Protocol, which is a protocol/method by which networkmanagement applications can query or request information from amanagement agent (such as are implemented in the present invention withprocessor/system resources 70 and appropriate software, etc.). A novelaspect of such embodiments of the present invention is that the voicemail system of communications system 50 also is implemented in a mannerto provide voice mail related information in an SNMP-type form. Thus, inaccordance with such embodiments of the present invention,communications system 50 stores a variety of information relating tovoice mail, such as information relating to the status of the voice mailsystem, failure or alarm-type information, usage statistics, etc. Insuch embodiments, any tool or application that is SNMP compliant canaccess and view such voice-mail related information. Exemplaryvoice-mail-related information that may be made available via SNMP to anSNMP compliant tool or application is set forth in Table 1. With suchembodiments, network (WAN and LAN, etc.) and PBX information along withvoice mail-related information may be desirably provided using SNMP to avariety of SNMP tools and applications.

TABLE 1 Label Where Description InCalls TUI Number of incoming callsanswered (all types) MsgCreate MSS Number of messages created MsgSentIMDA Number of messages sent successfully MsgSendFail IMFSA Number ofmessage send failures caused by an error in the Msg Subsystem MsgDeleteMSS Number of message deleted MbxLogon MSS Number of times users loggedon successfully MbxLogoff MSS Number of times users logged off theirmailbox (versus abandoned) TooManyErrors TUI Number of times callerswere dropped because they made too many errors TooShort TUI Number oftimes messages recorded were too short Restart TUI Number of times theAA/VMS application was restarted/reloaded MWIOn MSS Number of requeststo turn MWI On MWIOff MSS Number of requests to turn MWI Off MWIFail MSSNumber of MWI (On/Off) requests that failed TMOOper TUI Number of callstransferred to Operator because of TMO ZeroOper TUI Number of callstransferred to Operator because caller dialed “0” ErrorOper TUI Numberof calls transferred to Operator because of too many errorsErrorPassword TUI Number of calls dropped because of too many passworderrors. DiskFull MSS Number of times disk was too full to take a messageExtDirInCall TUI Number of direct external (trunk) calls into AA/VMSExtFwdInCall TUI Number of external calls forwarding into AA/VMSIntDirInCall TUI Number of direct internal (station) calls into AA/VMSIntFwdInCall TUI Number of internal calls forwarding into AA/VMS NewMsgTUI Number of “new” messages recorded and sent by logged on users FwdMsgTUI Number of “forwarded” messages recorded and sent by logged on usersReplyMsg TUI Number of “reply” messages recorded and sent by logged onusers MultAddress TUI Number of messages sent that had more than oneaddress NameRecord TUI Number of times a Name message was recordedGreetRecord TUI Number of times a Greeting message was recorded

Video Conferencing Type Applications

In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention,advanced video conferencing capability may be readily provided in avariety of office environments. Certain such preferred embodiments willbe described with reference to FIGS. 13A through 13C. Such embodimentsmay also be more readily understood by also referencing previouslydescribed figures, such as FIG. 3, etc.

With reference to FIG. 13A, video conferencing in accordance with afirst embodiment will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 13A,communications system 50 is coupled to video conferencing unit or VCU330. VCU 330 may be a video conferencing system or a higher end computeror the like that preferably includes camera 334 and is coupled tocommunications system 50 over bus 332, which preferably is a high speedserial or other interface trunk, such as, for example, what is known asa V.35, V.36 or V.37 interface trunk. In such embodiments, cards 82 ofcommunications system 50 include an appropriate interface card for theparticular interface trunk and preferably enable a direct and compatibleinterface with VCU 330. In such embodiments, video information fromcamera 334, and audio information as appropriate from VCU 330, arecoupled to communications system 50 over bus 332. Still preferably, thedata stream from VCU 330 is a in a form compatible with transmissionover, for example, a T-1 line. In such preferred embodiments, the datastream from VCU 330 is coupled to TDM bus 78 via station cards 82, andthen coupled to switch/multiplexer 74, and then redirected viaswitch/multiplexer 74 to, for example, T-1 line 51 that is coupled toWAN services network 58 (of course, one or more additional compatibleVCUs preferably are coupled to WAN services network 58 in order tocomplete the video conference). In such embodiments, video conferencingmay be achieved efficiently with a data stream coupled from VCU 330 tocommunications system 50 to, for example, a T-1 line via TDM bus 78 andswitch/multiplexer 74.

FIG. 13B illustrates VCU 336 with camera 340 (which may be as previouslydescribed) coupled to communications system 50 over bus 338, which inthis embodiment is an ISDN or T-1 type interface that supports, forexample, a H.320 video conferencing standard. In such embodiments, adata stream (e.g., video and audio) from VCU 336 is coupled tocommunications system 50, coupled via an appropriate ISDN/T-1 compliantstation card 82 to TDM bus 78 and to switch/multiplexer 74. Thereafter,from switch/multiplexer 74 the data stream may be coupled via anappropriate station card 82 to outgoing T-1 line 51 to WAN servicesnetwork 58.

Yet another embodiment of video conferencing in accordance with thepresent invention is described with reference to FIG. 13C. Asillustrated, computer 24 is coupled to communications system 50 overpacket bus 80A (see, e.g., FIG. 3). Computer 24 includes camera 24A andpreferably a microphone and speaker. Video and audio informationpreferably is coupled between communications system 50 and computer 24through an appropriate packet standard, for example what is known asH.323. Referring again to FIG. 3, in such embodiments packetized videoinformation is provided from computer 24 to communications system 50over packet bus 80A. Processor/system resources 70 processes thepacketized data stream (e.g., de-packetizes the data stream), whichpreferably now is in a suitable form/protocol (such as TCP/IP) fortransmission to a remote computer running a compatible videoconferencing program. As illustrative examples, the video data streammay be directed by processor/system resources 70 to fax modem 75 andcoupled to a remote computer, or the video data stream may be directedby processor/system resources 70 to an HDLC framer/deframer 73B, toswitch/multiplexer 74, to TDM bus 78, to an appropriate station card 82and to WAN services network 58 via trunk 51 to which is coupled one ormore remote computers for completing the video conference. It alsoshould be understood that one or more such computers desiring toestablish a video conference also may use an Internet connectionestablished with the aid of what is known as an ILS (or Internet locatorservice) dynamic directory, a real time directory server component,which serves to aid “user to IP mapping” for establishing desiredpoint-to-point connections for video conferencing.

It also should be noted that such video streams from computer 24 may bedirected to one or more other computers on the same packet bus 80A(using the hub feature of communications system 50), or to one or moreother computers on a different packet bus (using the router feature ofcommunications system 50), such as previously described.

It should be noted that the documentation for particular video,telephony and other standards, such as T-1, ISDN, V.35, H.320, H.323,etc. are publicly available, and such standards documentation is herebyincorporated by reference.

As also described elsewhere herein, in preferred embodiments VoIPcommunications may be readily enabled. Referring again to FIG. 3, voicefrom a telephone 12 may be coupled via station cards 82 and TDM bus 78to switch/multiplexer 74. From switch/multiplexer 74, the voice datastream may be directed to DSP 76, which directly or in conjunction withprocessor/system resources 70, produce appropriate IP packet data (ineffect, DSP 76 and/or processor/system resources 70 serve as, forexample, a TCP/IP processor). After IP packeting, the voice data may bedirected to WAN services network 58 via an HDLC framer/deframer 73B(such as described elsewhere herein), or may be directed to one or morepacket buses/LANs, also as previously described. It should be notedthat, with DSP 76, which may be configured to provide substantialprocessing resources, voice data may be IP processed effectively withminimal or no consumption of the resources of computer/system resources70, thereby helping to prevent an undesirable loading ofcomputer/systems resources 70.

It also should be noted that such embodiments have been described withreference to VoIP applications. It should be noted that such embodimentsalso may be used with other network protocols that may carry voice-typeinformation. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, a networkprotocol (such as IP) may desirably be used to efficiently carryvoice-type information, thereby providing more efficient communicationsservices to office utilizing communications system 50.

It also should be noted that, with communications system 50 implementedsuch as illustrated in FIG. 3, data, voice and video streams may beconverged over a common T-1 trunk. Thus, a user may more readily be ableto efficiently use a T-1 type of WAN resource with an integrated systemthat intelligently manages and bridges voice, data and video datastreams and processes.

While the various windows, buttons and icons illustrated herein are notlimitative of any particular aspect of the present invention, suchfeatures and combinations of features have been determined to provideadvantages to users of such an office attendant-type program,particularly when used with embodiments of the present invention asillustrated in FIG. 3 and the other drawings and related description.

In accordance with the foregoing description and embodiments, a varietyof communications systems and data, voice and video processes may bedesirably implemented. An exemplary communications system and thefeatures of such an exemplary communications system will now bedescribed.

Communications system 50 delivers comprehensive communications supportincluding PBX voice capability, full LAN/WAN data connectivity, and asuite of communications applications in a unified platform designed forscalability, reliability, and ease of use. Communications system 50integrates standards based communications hardware and software withswitching technology in a single system to meet the needs of differentsize offices. Unlike other complex central site products that aredifficult and expensive to manage, communications system 50 of thepresent invention is optimized for use by an office of 5 to 100 users.

Communications system 50 increases the efficiency of officecommunications and provides businesses a competitive edge by integratingthe following voice, data, and communications functions into oneremotely manageable platform: PBX; Voice mail; Automated attendant;Computer-telephony applications server; Channel bank; Router; CSU/DSU;LAN hub; Remote access server; and Modems.

Communications system 50 architecture allows the user to combine one ormore of the above referenced components into a single, easy-to-use,easy-to-manage system. Because communication system 50 seamlesslyinterfaces with legacy voice and data equipment, the user can purchaseonly those capabilities that is needed to create a comprehensivecommunications solution suited to the user's business. As describedearlier, an office attendant type program can be utilized to assistcommunication system 50 to perform all of the above mentioned tasks.

Communications system 50 supports today's mission-criticalcommunications applications, while providing a natural migration pathfor new applications enabled by the convergence of voice and data. Atthe core of the platform are system resources designed for voice anddata integration, including time division multiplexing 78 (TDM) andswitching, high-speed packet switching 74, a multiprotocol framingengine 72, LAN/WAN interfaces 82, and digital signal processors 76(DSPs). These resources are complemented by software services asillustrated in FIGS. 7A to 11E, such as advanced call control, messagingservices, a database management system, and routing services.

Based on an embedded Windows NT operating system, communications system50 applications use standard application programming interfaces (APIs)such as NDIS, TAPI, COM, and WinSock. With these APIs and communicationssystem 50 TAPI Service Provider (TSP), applications developed byindependent software vendors, including advanced CTI applications, canbe easily deployed on the system.

Communications system 50 system also eliminates the complexity inherentin today's multivendor piece-part alternatives. Instead of requiringinstallation and ongoing management of multiple boxes from multiplevendors that were not designed to work together, this integrated systemdelivers sophisticated voice and data solutions that are easy toinstall, administer, and use.

Communications system 50 is a purpose-built, dedicated platformarchitected to ensure high availability. Some features include the“always-on” software architecture with subsystem isolation, SNMP-basedmanagement, fault monitoring, life-line communications, and remotediagnostics and fix capabilities. Also, fault-tolerance options includeredundant power supplies and redundant hard disk drives.

With communications system 50, the user can dramatically reduce the costof acquiring, operating, and managing business communications.Communications system 50 delivers the cost reductions of integrated WANservices and eliminates the need for the additional resources andpersonnel required by today's multivendor communications alternatives.The unified management console and tools provide a cost-effective methodto remotely manage the entire customer premise.

Communication system 50 includes many features and benefits such asbeing a fully integrated, adaptable, reliable, and high performancesystem, while being a system that is easy to install, manage and use. Byutilizing a fully integrated system, communication system 50 includes,among other features, an integrated suite of applications, digitaltrunks 54, and a unified management console. An integrated suite ofapplications in communication system 50 provides an ideal platform fordeploying future business-transforming Internet/voice applications whileat the same time increasing productivity and customer satisfaction bycost-effectively deploying integrated voice and data applications.

Referring back to FIG. 2, digital trunks 54 lowers telecommunicationscosts by integrating voice and data traffic on the same access trunk.Digital trunks 54 also allows a user to cost-effectively deployhigh-bandwidth trunks to the smallest of offices. Finally, communicationsystem 50 significantly reduces cost of deployment and ongoingmanagement associated with legacy technologies, and reduces trainingtime by using a single graphical user interface.

A further benefit of communication system 50 of the present invention isits adaptability to communications needs of the user. Communicationssystem 50 includes a modular architecture that allows an office to payonly for the communications interfaces and options the office presentlyrequires and also provides the flexibility to add hardware interfaces orremotely load software applications as the office needs change.

Communication system 50 in the preferred embodiment is a standards basedsystem. This ensures interoperability with existing communicationsinfrastructure for seamless deployment and provides access to the latestthird-party applications and technology. Communications system 50 isalso adaptable to new technologies; thus, this protects an office'sinvestment with an architecture designed to accommodate futuretechnologies.

Another feature of communication system 50 of the present invention isits reliability. Some of communication system 50 features that allow itto be reliable are the following: complete integration and extensivetesting for hardware and software; embedded Windows NT operating system;redundant, load-sharing power supplies; independent fault monitoring;life-line phone support, and RAID-1 disk mirroring. The benefits ofthese features are the following: virtually eliminates expensivedowntime that results from incompatible hardware and applications;provides a single point of contact for fault isolation; ensures maximumapplication availability by isolating application subsystems; increasessecurity by preventing unauthorized access; prevents interruption ofservice due to power supply failure; ensures maximum system availabilityby providing an independent watchdog service; keeps the user informed ofsystem status through notification of system problems, no matter wherethe user is; ensures phone service, even during a power failure; andprevents downtime due to hard disk drive failure.

The multiple-bus architecture, application prioritization and isolation,and automatic route selection adds to the performance of communicationsystem 50. These features ensures high-grade voice quality by keepingvoice and data in their native environments, allows conversion betweenthe voice and data environments to support services such as voice overIP (VolP), maximizes investment by making community resources, such asDSPs and WAN/LAN interfaces, available to both voice and dataapplications, keeps mission-critical communications systems functioningunder heavy load by ensuring they receive required system resources,provides flexibility in routing calls, and least-cost routing savesmoney by dynamically selecting trunks based on criteria selected.

Communication system 50 is easy to install, manage, and use. Some of thefeatures making communication system 50 easy to install, manage, and useare its web-based management for remote configuration, diagnostics, andhealth monitoring, remote software upgrades, rapid installation,customizable management levels, and full SNMP instrumentation for voiceand data. These features simplifies management tasks by using a single,consistent management interface for voice and data infrastructure,reduces personnel costs by leveraging centralized technical resources tomanage remote offices, minimizes downtime and on-site visits throughextensive tools for remote troubleshooting and diagnostics, ensuressystem integrity by flexibly addressing different access requirementsfor system administrators, enables a user to reduce support costs bydistributing simple, repetitive tasks such as moves, adds, and changesto office personnel, leverages your existing SNMP infrastructure tomanage both voice and data capabilities on the communication system 50,allows the user to save money by performing software upgrades from acentral location, and saves valuable time and money because the systemcan be installed and configured quickly.

Next, the specifications for the communications system 50 in thepreferred embodiment will now be described. As it will be apparent toone skilled in the art, it is important to note that a differentconfiguration and/or additional or reduced number of components can beused with communication system 50 without altering the scope and spiritof the present invention. In a preferred embodiment of communicationsystem 50 of the present invention, a resource switch card (standardwith every chassis) includes the following: 12 10Base-T Ethernet hubports; 12 analog phone ports; 6 analog trunk ports (including 2life-line ports); communications switch engine and other systemresources; 2 internal 56Kbps fax/modems (V.90 and K56); fault monitor;connectors: RJ-45 (Ethernet), 50-pin RJ-21x (phone), 3.5 mm phono(line-in, line-out), 15-pin VGA; and Indicators: System status; link andactivity for each Ethernet port.

The optional expansion interfaces of communication system 50 include thefollowing components: (1) Analog trunk modules—4- and 8-port versionsavailable; Loop start and ground start; REN: 0.65 B; Impedance: 600ohms; Compliance: FCC Part 15 Class A, FCC Part 68, UL 1950, DOC, CSA;Connector: 50-pin RJ-21x; and Indicators: System status; (2) T1 trunkmodules—1- and 2-port versions available; Line rate: FT1 and T1 (64Kbps-1.544 Mbps); Framing: ESF, SF/D4; Line code: AMI, B8ZS; IntegratedCSU/DSU; Compliance: FCC Part 15 Class A, FCC Part 68, UL, CSA, ANSIT1.101 (MTIE), ANSI T1.403-1995, AT&T TR62411; Connector: RJ-48C, dualbantam (monitor jack); and Indicators: System status; red and yellowalarms for each T1 port; (3) 10Base-T Ethernet hub cards—12- and 24-portversions available; Layer 3 segmentation option: Traffic is routedbetween cards; Full SNMP instrumentation; Compliance: FCC Part 15 ClassA, FCC Part 68, UL, CSA, IEEE 802.3, ISO/IEC 8802-3; Connector: RJ-45;and Indicators: System status; link and activity for each Ethernet port;(4) Analog station cards—12- and 24-port versions available; Supportsstandard and enhanced analog phones with features such as enhancedcaller ID display and message-waiting lamp; Operating voltage:Onhook—48V, Offhook—24V; REN: 3 B; On-board ringing power supply; Audiofrequency response: 300 to 3500 Hz; Compliance: FCC Part 15 Class A, FCCPart 68, UL, CSA; Connector: 50-pin RJ-21x; and Indicators: Systemstatus; (5) Fault-resilient options—Redundant hard drive for diskmirroring (RAID-1); and Redundant power supply.

The following table describes an interface summary according to thepresent invention.

Analog Part Phone Ethernet CO Number Ports Ports POTS T1 Resource SwitchStandard 12 12 6 Card Analog Station IO-12AS-C 12 Card IO-24AS-C 24Ethernet Hub Card IO-12EH-C 12 IO-24EH-C 24 Analog Trunk IO-4AT-M 4Module IO-8AT-M 8 T1 Trunk Module IO-1T1-M 1 IO-2T1-M 2 Chassis(maximum) 84 84 22 2

Next, the chassis specifications will be described for the preferredembodiment of the present invention. The following are the physicalspecifications of communication system 50 of the present invention: (1)Height: 23.125 in (58.74 cm); (2) Width: 17.5 in (44.45 cm); (3) Depth:18 in (45.72 cm); and (4) Weight: 88 lbs (40 kg), maximum configuration.Next, the mounting options will now be described: (1) Rack-mount(standard EIA 19-inch rack) and (2) Stand-alone. The power requirementsare as follows: 95-132 VAC, 47-63 Hz, 5.0A; 190-264 VAC, 47-63 Hz, 2.5A;Inrush current (one power supply): 40A maximum (115 VAC), 80A maximum(230 VAC); and optional second hot-swappable and load-sharing powersupply. The environmental ranges are as follows: operating temperature:32° to 104° F. (0° to 40° C.); operating humidity: 85% maximum relativehumidity, noncondensing; and Operating altitude: Up to 10,000 ft. (3,050m) maximum.

Communications system 50 PBX and an office attendant type program CTIapplication provide sophisticated call control and handling.

The PBX capabilities will now be described. Communications system 50 PBXprovides a full-featured, nonblocking digital PBX with sophisticatedcall control capabilities. These capabilities are delivered usingstandard analog telephones connected to existing phone wiring. Inaddition, communications system 50 supports advanced call controlcapabilities over IP-based networks, for applications based on theMicrosoft Telephony Application Programming Interface (TAPI) standard.TAPI allows communication system 50 to optionally provide virtualdigital telephones, delivering advanced call control features overinexpensive standard analog phones.

An office attendant type program computer-telephony application will nowbe described. Communications system 50's office attendant type programis an easy-to-use application that places powerful telecommunicationscapabilities directly on the desktop. It provides comprehensive callhandling functionality for operators and administrators, making themmore efficient through an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI).

Communications system 50's office attendant type application expeditesroutine tasks such as answering and transferring calls. It alsosimplifies more complex tasks such as setting up and managing conferencecalls. Office attendant type program leverages advanced Microsoft TAPIover TCP/IP technology that allows communications system 50 to replacethe traditionally expensive, immobile, and hard-to-use attendantconsole.

Exemplary communications system 50 PBX and office attendant type programspecifications are now shown below. PBX features for call featuresinclude the following: Call forwarding, Off-premise call forwarding,Transfer on busy and no answer, Time-of-day call forwarding, Call hold,Call toggle, Call waiting, Consultation call, Consultation transfer,Blind transfer, Conference call, Call pickup, Public address systemsupport, and Do not disturb. The features for calling and called partyidentification are as follows: support for enhanced caller ID phones,and Extension-to-extension identification.

The system features and management flexibility are the following: Classof Service profiles, Uniform dialing plan, Time-of-day dialing policy,Digit insertion, Automated route selection (ARS), least-cost routing,Trunk groups, Hunt groups for intelligent call distribution, includinglinear, circular, and ring all, Direct inward dial (DID), Messagenotification: lamp and stutter dial tone, Individual user profiles, Calldetail recording, Phone set relocation, Music on hold.

The following are the office attendant type program features: (1)System—Standard Windows application; Call control over IP;Software-based console that is easy to relocate; Drag-and-drop dialingand conferencing; Virtual line appearances; Interface indicators signalcall status; Caller ID display; Calls in queue display; Companytelephone directory; Lookup-as-you-type dialing; Personal call log;Account number entry; Personal information manager; Conference manager;System speed-dial buttons; Programmable feature buttons; Most recentlyused numbers list; Login security; CTI link test button;Context-sensitive help; and Contact database importing; (2) Callhandling—Dial pad; Hang up; Transfer with look-ahead; Hold; Answer next;Call forwarding; Do not disturb; (3) Installation requirements—66-MHz486 PC with 16 MB of RAM (Pentium recommended); and Windows 95 orWindows NT 4.0.

PBX and the office attendant type program application are an integralpart of the communications system 50. Other Communications system 50software components include the following: Data Communications Services;Voice Mail and Auto Attendant applications; and Remote ManagementSystem.

With Communications system 50, higher productivity with voice mail andautomated attendant services can be achieved. Communications system 50voice mail and auto attendant services help an office increaseproductivity by allowing people to share information without time ordistance constraints. Customers can leave messages at any time of day ornight, with the assurance that the messages will be delivered. Whetheran office personnel is in the office or on the road, any officepersonnel can access messages instantly from any phone in the world.

In addition, communications system 50 voice mail services allow a userto access the user's voice mail messages via the user's favorite e-mailapplication. Communications system 50 voice mail application is builtwith full support for open industry standards—including IMAP4 e-mailapplication compatibility for remote voice mail retrieval, and WAV soundfile format for ubiquitous message playback using the most popularoperating systems.

Communications system 50 auto attendant application economicallyprocesses inbound calls 24 hours a day—answering each call, providingcustomized instructions based on the time of day or day of week, androuting callers to the person best able to help them. Callers can usethe intelligent call distribution feature to reach a particular personor department, without requiring an operator or direct inward dial (DID)services. For companies that use DID, auto attendant is ideally suitedfor assisting a live operator by handling common requests forinformation such as directions and mailing addresses.

The following are exemplary communications system 50 voice mail and autoattendant Specifications. Voice mail features include the following: Upto six concurrent voice mail sessions; Approximately 67 hours ofstorage; No additional hardware required; Interruptible prompts; andPassword protection. The voice message handling feature includes: Newmessage retrieval; Save messages; Listen to deleted messages before youhang up; Hear message time stamp and duration; Forward message; Reply tomessage; Skip message; Go to end of message; Backup and forward 5seconds; Pause/resume listening; and Pause/resume recording.

The versatile message notification features include: Stutter dial tone;Lamp indication; and IMAP4 e-mail retrieval. Next, the auto attendantfeatures include: Customizable greetings; Time, day-of-week, and holidayscheduling; Automated call routing (individual extensions and huntgroups for departmental routing); Audio-text mailboxes; Dial by name;Multilevel menus; and Single-digit menus.

The voice mail and auto attendant applications are an integral part ofcommunications system 50. Other communications system 50 softwarecomponents include: PBX services; office attendant type programcomputer-telephony application; Data Communications Services; and RemoteManagement System.

Communications system 50 delivers comprehensive communicationssupport—multiprotocol router, full LAN/WAN connectivity, PBX voicecapability, and a suite of communications applications—in a unifiedplatform designed for scalability, reliability, and ease of use.

Communications system 50 data communications services provide built-inservices for local area networks, connecting branch offices toheadquarters, and providing remote access and Internet connectivity toits employees. In addition, the data communications services allowoffices to create virtual private networks (VPNs) to save money onremote access and interoffice connectivity. Further, an office can savesignificant money by integrating both voice and data traffic over thesame T1 access circuit. The built-in multiplexer passes data traffic tothe data communications services for processing; the remaining voicetraffic is passed directly to the PBX.

Communications system 50 multiprotocol router is based on Microsoft's NTRouting and Remote Access Server (RRAS). An office using communicationssystem 50 may extend the base RRAS elements with value-added servicessuch as frame relay and versatile WAN interfaces, including analogdial-up and integrated digital T1 circuits. Multiprotocol routing (MPR)capabilities provide full-featured, standards-based LAN and WAN routingoptimized for small and branch offices. Standards-based featuresinclude: IP routing (RIP, RIPv2, OSPFv2); LPX routing (RIP, SAP,IPXWAN); Packet filtering; Frame relay (RFC 1490, Cisco); Point-to-pointprotocol (PPP), Multilink PPP; Dial-on-demand routing; ClasslessInter-Domain Routing (CIDR); PPP authentication protocols (CHAP, PAP);DHCP relay agent; Compression of TCP/IP headers for low-speed seriallinks; Path MTU discovery; PPP Internet Protocol Control Protocol(IPCP); Compression Control Protocol; and ICMP router discoverymessages.

Communications system 50 data communications services include remoteaccess services, allowing a business to extend its networks throughphone lines—and keep up with an increasingly mobile work environment.Network managers can use the remote access server capabilities forout-of-band management access, which is especially useful for initialinstallation and troubleshooting from remote locations. Furthermore,mobile and work-at-home users can seamlessly and securely access theuser's corporate network. They can work, print, and run applicationsremotely using such features as the following: Comprehensive dial-upnetworking support for all mainstream remote clients; Authentication;RADIUS client support; Token card support; PPP and Multilink PPP;Microsoft Point-to-Point Compression; Restartable file copy; and Idledisconnect.

Virtual private networks lets a user use IP packet networks, such as theInternet, to provide secure connections between remote users and theircorporate networks, without the expense of a dedicated private network.Communications system 50 offers a flexible and comprehensive solution,based on the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), for creatingVPNs.

With PPTP, a user can dial into a local Internet service provider andaccess the network as easily and securely as if they were at theirdesks. PPTP technology offers significant advantages such as thefollowing: Full interoperability with Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NTWorkstation, and many other VPN products; PPTP Client-to-Network; PPTPNetwork-to-Network for interoffice connectivity; Data encryption (RSARC4); and Compatibility with IP, IPX, and NetBEUI.

Data communications services include powerful management software thatenables administrators to centralize ongoing network maintenance,diagnostics, and troubleshooting; and easily accomplish remote changessuch as setting up a brand new office or making changes to an existingone. Features include the following: Full SNMP instrumentation; MIBsimplemented for data and voice services; Performance and capacitymonitoring; Display of interface status in real time; Ping; Trace route;NetStat; and WAN protocol trace capability.

Data communications services are an integral part of communicationssystem 50. Other communications system 50 software components include:PBX services; communications system 50 computer-telephony applicationvoice mail and auto attendant applications; and Remote ManagementSystem.

Ongoing management costs make up the majority of operating expenses of acommunications infrastructure. This is especially true for remoteoffices, where technical expertise is rare and trained personnelfrequently make on-site visits to perform routine tasks such as moves,adds, and changes. Adding to the problem is the fact that mostcommunications infrastructures consist of multiple boxes from multiplevendors, requiring a variety of specialized personnel to operate andmaintain the many components.

Communications system 50 Remote Management System addresses thesecost-of-ownership issues by providing integrated remote managementcapabilities for both voice and data services. Designed for remotemanagement and fault monitoring, the Remote Management System provides acost-effective method for managing the entire customer premise remotely.Companies with multiple offices or plans to expand can realizesignificant cost savings by leveraging their expensive technicalresources, no matter where they are located. Furthermore, thecentralized management capabilities of communications system 50 presenta unique managed network service opportunity for both voice and dataservice providers.

The Remote Management System consists of the following components:

(1) Remote Management Console: This component provides a unified Webinterface for managing all aspects of communications system 50. Based onHTML, Java, and push technologies, the Remote Management Consoleprovides a consistent interface that is easy to learn and use.

(2) SNMP: Both the voice and data aspects of communications system 50have been SNMP instrumented, including key application services such asvoice mail and PBX.

(3) Call detail recording: A complete record of all voice and data callsplaced or received by communications system 50, this information can beused to analyze call patterns and trunk utilization, and to generatecall reports.

(4) Independent fault monitor: A feature typically found only on largecentral-site systems, the independent fault monitor supervises systemoperation, and detects and reports faults to the system administrator.

(5) Trace manager: A complete log of all system activity, the tracemanager provides useful information such as real-time call progress, WANprotocol traces, frame relay management information, and voice mailactivity to facilitate troubleshooting.

Below are the specifications for an exemplary communications system 50Remote Management System: Rapid installation: less than 30 minutes;Remote software upgrades; Minimal technical expertise required; Robust,low-maintenance platform; Architected for high availability;Self-diagnostics to ease management burden; Remote management viadigital trunks and over embedded 56Kbps modems; and Centralized passwordfacility. A Remote Management Console of the present invention includesthe following features and benefits: Web-based console that manages allvoice and data services; Management of a system in a network over anyTCP/IP connection; Multiple administrative levels (customizable);Password protection; Support for remote moves, adds, and changes;Monitoring and diagnostic utilities; Chassis view that provides anat-a-glance view of system status, including LED states; Graphical userinterface that is easy to learn and use; Extensive online help; and Runson Windows 95 and Windows NT, using Internet Explorer 4.0 or Netscape4.0.

The SNMP features include the following: Full SNMP instrumentation forvoice and data; Support of standard enterprise network managementstations such as HP OpenView and Sun NetManager; SNMP standards: SNMP(RFC 1157), Structure and Identification of Management Information (RFC1155), Concise MIB Definitions (RFC 1212), MIB-II MIB (RFC 1213), Traps(RFC 1215); Standard MIBs: Frame Relay DTE (RFC 1315), T1/E1 Interfaces(RFC 1406), Repeater (RFC 2108), Microsoft HTTP, Microsoft LAN Manager,Microsoft RIPv2, Microsoft OSPFv2; Private MIBs: T1 extensions, stationmodule, voice mail Call detail recording (CDR); Complete record of allvoice and data calls placed or received; Standard file format for importinto CDR applications; and Remote analysis of CDR information without adedicated workstation.

The independent fault monitor includes the following features andbenefits: Embedded processor that provides an independent watchdogservice for the overall system; System event log; Dedicated modem forremote access; Pager notification of system faults; System status: fan,power supply, operating system; and System reset.

The trace manager includes the following features and benefits: Displayof all system activity; Graphically based; Enabled on a per-servicebasis; Multiple trace levels; and, Events color-coded for readability.

The communications system 50 Remote Management System is an integralpart of the preferred communications system 50. Other communicationssystem 50 software components include the following: PBX services;Communications system 50 computer-telephony application; datacommunications services; and voice mail and auto attendant applications.

Together, these software components combine to provide you a powerful,easy-to-use communications solution may be optimized for a remote orsmall office.

Referring now to FIG. 14, additional preferred embodiments utilizingadvanced call logging features will now be described. As illustrated inFIG. 14, call logging window 350 may be opened by a user of an officeattendant-type program running on a computer in accordance with thepresent invention (see, e.g., FIG. 8A, call log icon 142). Inalternative embodiments, call logging window 350 may be automaticallyopened upon receipt of an incoming call, or upon initiation of anoutgoing call. Window 350 preferably includes display windows 352 and354, which preferably displays information for calls in the log, such asa call log identification number, begin call time, end call time,duration of call, type of call (either inbound or outbound), accountinformation, etc. In other embodiments, other information desired to beincluded in a call log record is included in such a window. Window 354is illustrated with only one call displayed, although it should beunderstood that a plurality of calls may be displayed in window 354, andin fact the call log can include numerous calls that cannot be displayedsimultaneously in window 354. A scroll button or buttons (such as scrollicon 353) preferably are provided to scroll up and/or down the loggedcalls.

Preferably, window 356 is provided to display details of a particularcall, which may be selected from a plurality of logged calls in window354 by a click of a mouse or pointer. Window 356 preferably includesdetails of the particular logged call, and also preferably includesaccount field or window 358 and note window 360. It should be noted thataccount field window 358 in preferred embodiments may be desirablyutilized for purposes of tracking calls by account, and for desirablycollecting such logged call information from a plurality of computersand generating reports based on such information. Window 360 may beutilized to display notes entered by the user prior to, during or afterthe call, and/or may display previously entered information. In certainembodiments, window 360 may display information received fromcommunications systems 50 over a packet bus, or from another computer onthe packet bus, such as account status information, payment information,ordering information, etc. In such embodiments, such as based on theaccount information, particular information corresponding to thisaccount may be desirably retrieved and made available to the usercalling the a particular account, etc.

In certain embodiments, upon receipt of an incoming call or uponinitiation of an outgoing call, a window such as window 350automatically appears (this may be by way of the office attendant-typeprogram for a user who is managing incoming and outgoing calls of theoffice, or by way of a companion program for a user is not managingincoming and outgoing calls of the office). In preferred embodiments,the user is prompted by a brief message displayed on the screen and/oran audio message played on the user's computer to enter the accountnumber in window/field 358. In still other embodiments, the user mustinsert an account number in window/field 358 in order to complete theincoming or outgoing call. In such embodiments, processor/systemresources 70 and/or the user's computer promptly reads any accountnumber information provided by the user and any accepts or validates theaccount number (e.g., compares the entered account number to a storedlist of valid account numbers, and determines if there is a match). Inthe event that an invalid account number is detected, a suitable messagewindow and/or audio alert indicating that the account number entered isinvalid, unrecognized, etc., preferably is provided to the user. In theevent that a valid account number is detected, then the call iscompleted.

In alternate embodiments, the user is prompted by a brief messagedisplayed on the screen (such as in a suitable window) or audibly, andthe call completed but only for a predetermined time. This would enablethe call to be completed without account authorization and/orvalidation, but would require that the account information be promptlyinput in a predetermined time interval.

In still alternate embodiments, communications system 50 (and/or anothercomputer coupled to communications system 50 via a packet bus, etc.),periodically polls the computers utilizing a program with call loggingsuch as previously described retrieves the call log information. Withautomated call log polling, a central resource such as communicationssystem 50 (and/or another computer) may periodically, and preferablyautomatically, collect call logging information over the packet bus(again, see, e.g., FIG. 3), which may be then made available to asuitable application running on communications system 50 and/or anothercomputer, and compiled, processed, analyzed, printed, etc. In accordancewith such embodiments, incoming and outgoing calls may be desirablylogged and associated with account information, with such loggedinformation desirably collected from a plurality of computers and madeavailable to a central resource for further processing and/or use.

It should be noted that in preferred embodiments, communications system50 continuously monitors or knows which particular computers are “loggedon” and running an office attendant-type program or a companion or otherprogram. In this manner, communications system 50 may continually beaware of which computers/users are logged on, and may thus send emails,commands, net messages or take other actions based on such information.

Referring now to FIGS. 15 through 17H, various aspects of remoteadministration/configuration and remote diagnostics of a system such ascommunications system 50 in accordance with certain preferredembodiments of the present invention will now be described.

FIG. 15 illustrates a window from a remote administration/configurationapplication/applet (preferably what is known as a Java applet, etc.)that preferably utilizes a desirable browser-type application interface.With a browser type interface, a person desiring to remotely configureor administer communications system 50 desirably uses a browser andpreferably establishes an IP or similar connection with communicationssystem 50. In preferred embodiments, the IP-type connection may beestablished via WAN connection (via WAN network services 58; see, e.g.,FIG. 3), via a LAN connection, via a serial port connection (via, forexample, a serial port to processor/system resources 70), via a modemconnection (via modem 75 of FIG. 3), etc.

What is important to note is that administration/configuration ofcommunications system 50 may be remotely performed via an IP or similarconnection, preferably with a browser-type application, and preferablyusing the HyperText Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”) or similar protocol (asknown in the art, with a protocol such as HTTP a connection between aclient and a server is severed once a request or a response message hasbeen transmitted). In such preferred embodiments, HTTP commands may beused to remotely administer, configure and diagnose communicationssystem 50 in a desirable and flexible manner. It should also be notedthat the use of HTTP commands in such a manner to administer, configure,etc., WAN resources (e.g., T-1 cards or resources), PBX and telephonyresources (e.g., station cards, voice mail), and LAN resources (e.g.,ethernet or other network cards/resources) enables remote control andmonitoring of communications system 50 in a flexible and desirablemanner. In particular, if a security arrangement known as a “firewall”is implemented in conjunction with communications system 50, the use ofsuch HTTP commands to configure a WAN service (for example) may be morereadily accomplished in that most firewall systems utilize ports thatallow HTTP communications/traffic, which thereby reduces conflicts withthe firewall security system. In effect, remote processing may beaccomplished by HTTP “tunneling” into communications system 50 with anIP-type connection, etc.

It also should be noted that password/user identification securityarrangements are preferably utilized in such embodiments in order tomaintain security over the configuration and operation of communicationssystem 50. Encryption techniques also may be utilized in order toimprove such security if desired for the particular application.

It also should be noted that such embodiments preferably operate on thebasis of “transactions.” Preferably, the remote computer or clientcoupled to communications system 50 using a session implemented withHTTP “tunneling” establish a transaction-based interaction. Inaccordance with such embodiments, the client initiates a transactionusing, for example, Java programming remotely, such as over theInternet, preferably using what is known as a private virtual network orprivate virtual channel connection. The particular transaction oroperation (such as described elsewhere herein) are initiated by a clientand proceed until completion, at which time the results of thetransaction are made known to the client, or else the client has theoption prior to completion of the transaction of “rolling back” orcanceling the transaction in the event that the client user determinesthat something is wrong or incorrect with the transaction, etc.Preferably, the software on the communications system “server” promptsthe client with an option to accept, modify or roll-back thetransaction. In preferred embodiments, the client-server session mayprocess one or a series of such transactions. With such atransaction-based system, remote commands and operations may beperformed in a more secure manner between the preferably Java client andserver, all of which is preferably achieved using HTTP tunneling aspreviously described.

Referring again to FIG. 15, various icons are illustrated for remoteaccess by a user desiring to remotely administer/configurecommunications system 50. By clicking appropriate icons, various systemadministration/configuration functions may be implemented. Asillustrated, general administration functions may include or relate to:log off, diagnostics, help, chassis view (described in greater detaillater), general settings, software versions (enabling a viewing of aregistry of software modules and releases, etc., installed on theparticular communication system 50), call detail report, restart/reboot,password administration, SNMP configuration, system backup/restore, diskarray configuration, access permissions, SNMP alarms, software upgrade,date and time, etc. As illustrated, PBX and voice mail administrationfunctions may include or relate to: extension configuration, autoattendant and voice mail, first digit table, hunt groups, station ports,local TAPI configuration, CTI speed dial numbers, etc. As illustrated,data administration functions may include or relate to: IP networksettings, IPX configuration, RRAS routing (routing and remote accessservice), network services and adapters, etc. As illustrated, trunkadministration functions may include or relate to: trunk groups, T-1trunks, trunk access profiles, analog trunks, frame relay, etc.

What is important to note is that, in such preferred embodiments,various icons are presented so that a remote person may convenientlyselect via an appropriate and intuitive icon an applet to achieve thedesired function or operation, and which may conveniently be used toconfigure and administration the communications system and configurePBX, voice mail, LAN and IP network connections, trunk groups, T1trunks, frame relay, etc. In accordance with such embodiments, a singleuser interface, remotely viewable, may be used to access and administer,etc., voice, data, LAN, WAN services and applications, etc.

FIGS. 16A through 16F will be used to further describe various aspectsof such remote administration/configuration in accordance with preferredembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 16A illustrates a preferred exemplary embodiment of “chassis view”window 364, which, for example, may be displayed in response toselecting of the chassis view icon of FIG. 15. Window 364 preferablyincludes a visual representation of chassis 366 of communications system50, and preferably includes a visual representation of various stationcards, resource cards, power supplies, drives, etc. Such a visualrepresentation may include station/resource cards 374, including aparticular card 372 indicated with a pointer arrow, power supply(ies)370, drive 368, etc. What is important is that an intuitive visualrepresentation of the overall system be desirably displayed in a mannerto facilitate an understanding of the configuration of the particularcommunications system 50 that is being remotely monitored, administered,configured, etc.

In preferred embodiments, pointing to a particular card or resourceresults in an enlarged visual representation of that card or resource,as illustrated by the pointer being directed to card 372, resulting inan enlarged representation of card 372 appearing adjacent to the chassisview. In the illustrated example, card 372 includes network connectionports in circle 378, and as examples shows empty port 378A and occupiedport 378B. Thus, in accordance with such embodiments, an enlarged viewof a card or resource may be visually displayed and remotely viewed, anda visual representation of whether particular ports or resources areutilized (such as, for example, by having an ethernet or other networkcable attached) also may conveniently be provided.

In accordance with preferred embodiments, various functions and/oroperations are provided for remote administration/configuration, such aspreviously described. Windows to provide such functions and operationspreferably are displayed in a manner to intuitively lead the remoteperson through the desired operation, etc. Such windows may be accessedby selecting an appropriate icon such as are illustrated in FIG. 15 (theicons of FIG. 15 are (© 1998, Vertical Networks, Inc. (assignee of thepresent application)), or they may be accessed by way of clicking on aparticular station or resource card in the chassis view of FIG. 16A.Various remote administration/configuration windows will now be furtherdescribed.

Referring to FIG. 16B, window 380 is provided for configuration of T-1channels of a particular communications system 50. As previouslydescribed, window 380 may be presented in response to clicking on theT-1 trunks icon of FIG. 15, or alternatively window 380 may be presentedin response to clicking on a T-1 resource/station card of the chassisview of FIG. 16A. As illustrated, with a point and click operation onwindow 380, the remote person may enable/disable T-1 channels, set orreset signaling (e.g., wink start, ground start, etc.), configure trunkgroups (e.g., WAN data which may be used to direct or clear channel datatrunk traffic to an RRAS interface, thereby enabling the LAN totransmit/receive data to/from the WAN), voice analog (e.g., to directincoming analog voice trunk traffic to a default destination), voicedigital (e.g., to direct incoming digital voice traffic to a defaultdestination), DID analog (e.g., to direct incoming direct inward dialanalog voice trunk traffic to a default destination), DID digital (e.g.,to direct incoming DID digital trunk traffic to a default destination),and modem (e.g., to direct either T-1 trunks or analog trunks to one ormore modems included as part of communications system 50).

In accordance with such embodiments, T-1 trunks may be configured in anintuitive point and click manner, thereby facilitating remoteadministration and configuration of such resources. As a particularexample, multiple T-1 channels may be selected in FIG. 16B as a blockwith the mouse or pointer, and such block-selected T-1 channels may thenbe simultaneously configured (e.g., configure to be enabled/disabled,configure signaling, configure trunk groups, etc.). With such a clickand block select operation, multiple T-1 channels may be configured in agroup.

As illustrated in FIG. 16C, window 382 may be presented in order toconfigure station ports of a station card (again, either by iconselection or selecting a station card in chassis view, etc.). Also asillustrated, the state of particular stations (e.g., enabled ordisabled), phone type (e.g., caller ID, basic, etc.), mail waitingindicator (MWI) (e.g., stutter the dial tone, light a lamp on the phone,etc.), operation mode (e.g., operate as a station, direct to voice mail,etc.). As described earlier with respect to FIG. 16B, with intuitivepoint and click type operations, various station cards may be selected(including multiple stations that may be selected as a block, etc.) andconfigured remotely and in an intuitive manner.

FIG. 16D illustrates window 384, which may be used to configure analogtrunks in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention. FIG. 16E illustrates window 386, which may be used toconfigure frame relay type WAN resources in accordance with preferredembodiments of the present invention. FIG. 16F illustrates window 388,which may be used to configure network (e.g., IP network) settings inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention.

As will be appreciated from these illustrative examples, variousadministration/configuration operations may be carried out remotely,preferably using an intuitive browser-type interface, and preferablyusing HTTP type commands in an applet environment such as with Java, ina desirable and much improved manner.

As illustrated in FIGS. 17A through 17H, such remote processing conceptsare extended to remote diagnostic operations in accordance with yetother preferred embodiments of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 17A, various icons may be presented in order fora remote user to perform remote diagnostics on communications system 50.Such icons may be used to present, for example, various “DOS prompt”type commands (e.g., Ping, ARP, route print, net stat, host name, traceroute and IP config). Icons also may be presented for more advanceddiagnostic-type operations, such as trunk monitor, link monitor, voicemail monitor, station monitor and trace monitor. Various of thesediagnostic operations will now be more fully described.

As illustrated in FIG. 17B, window 390 may be presented in order toprovide a trunk monitoring function. As illustrated, window 390 may beused to readily provide information regarding the slot, board, port,state, and called and calling party information of various trunks. Asillustrated in FIG. 17C, window 392 may be presented in order to providea link monitoring function. As illustrated, window 392 may be used toreadily provide information regarding links that may be establishedwithin communications system 50, such as which cards are connected towhich port, etc. As illustrated in FIG. 17D, window 394 may be presentedin order to provide a station monitoring function. As illustrated,window 394 may be used to readily provide information regarding thestatus of various stations/extension in communications system 50. Aswill be appreciated, such windows may be used to readily present desiredstatus and other diagnostic type information to a remote person.

In accordance with preferred embodiments, advanced remote tracemonitoring also may be provided. FIG. 17E illustrates window 396, whichmay be used to display trace information from various softwarecomponents, drivers, etc. in communications system 50. The level andtype of trace information that is remotely provided may be desiredcontrolled in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention. FIG. 17F illustrates window 397, in which a first level oftracing information (e.g., “standard”) that may be provided is selected.As illustrated, the remote user may select various components to havetrace information provided in the trace monitor window. FIG. 17Gillustrates window 398, in which a second, higher level of tracinginformation (e.g., “advanced”) that may be provided is selected. Asillustrated, the remote user may select various software components,such as those related to automated attendant, voice mail, connectionmanager, DSP manager, T-1 drivers, LAN drivers, frame relay drivers,etc., and may also select various trace filters to more preciselycontrol the trace information that is provided. FIG. 17H illustrateswindow 399, in which certain timing and mode information may beselected. As illustrated, window 399 may be used to provide that tracinginformation is presented in real time or stored to a file, with controlpreferably provided for the number of entries that are displayed, pollinterval, etc. For trace entries stored in a file, start and end timesearch parameters also may be selected.

Referring now to FIG. 18, additional aspects of preferred embodiments ofthe present invention will now be described.

Based on the description provided elsewhere, it will be apparent thatcommunications system 50 may be coupled to other such communicationssystems in a manner desirable for the particular application. FIG. 18illustrates three such communications systems 50A, 50B and 50C (in otherembodiments other numbers of such communications systems 50 may beprovided). The various communications systems are coupled to variousdesired WAN services (WAN services 58A, 58B and 58C being illustrated),and also may be coupled to each other, such as through connections 410Aand 410B, etc. Connections 410A and 410B maybe, for example, an ethernetor other LAN-type connection (e.g., for multiple communications systems50 in the same general locations or physical proximity), oralternatively may be a remote connection such as a connectionestablished over the Internet (e.g., an IP connection), such as forcommunications systems 50 geographically remote from each other (e.g., ahead office and one or more remote satellite-type offices, etc.). FIG. 3illustrates the various paths that may be utilized to establish such aconnection. What is important is that information may be coupled betweenthe various communications systems in a manner suitable for theparticular physical configuration.

Preferably, communications system 50A includes a PRI or primary rateinterface or ISDN circuit that includes a number of what are known as B(or “bearer”) channels and at least one D (or “data”) channel used tocarry, for example, control signal signals and customer call data suchas in a packet switched mode. As is known in the art, a D or similarcontrol signaling channel typically is used to provide appropriatesignaling information for the voice or B channels. The D channeltypically and preferably carries such control signaling information inthe form of a serial data stream. The control signaling over such aD-type channel is sometimes referred to as NFAS, or Network FacilityAssociated Signaling.

As illustrated, communications system 50A also preferably has coupledthereto one or more T-1 or similar digital transmission or other links,and communications system 50B and 50C also preferably have coupledthereto one or more T-1 or similar digital transmission or other links.With the various communications systems coupled together as previouslydescribed (e.g., ethernet/LAN connection, IP connection, etc.), the Dchannel coupled to communications system 50A may be used to providesignaling-type information for one or more T-1 links coupled tocommunications systems 50A, 50B and/or 50C. As in many applications theD-type signaling channel may have sufficient bandwidth to providesignaling information for a plurality of communication links, withcommunications systems implemented and/or connected together asdescribed herein, a common D-type signaling channel may be used toefficient provide signaling information for a plurality of T-1 orsimilar links coupled to a plurality of such communications systems,etc. Thus, in accordance with such embodiments, a distributed-type NFASsignaling arrangement may be implemented for a plurality ofcommunications systems.

FIG. 19 illustrates another configuration of a plurality ofcommunications systems 50 (this type of configuration may be substitutedfor the configuration illustrated in FIG. 18, or vice versa, or somecombination of these configurations). While three communications systemsare illustrated (50A, 50B and 50C), other numbers of communicationssystems are utilized in other embodiments.

As illustrated, communications system 50A is coupled to WAN services 58Aover connection 412 (the other communications systems may be similarlycoupled to WAN services, etc.), which may be any suitableconnection/link such as described elsewhere herein. As describedelsewhere herein, VoIP (or other packetized voice/data communications)may be coupled to/from WAN services 58A and communications system 50A.As previously described, communications systems in accordance with thepresent invention include suitable HDLC or other data framing/deframingengines, DSPs (such as for decompression or other processing), PBX andLAN router types of functions. With an arrangement such as illustratedin FIG. 19, a VoIP or similar or other packetized data may be received,for example, by communications system 50A. This data streamconventionally might be de-packetized and processed upon receipt by thereceiving system. Communications systems in accordance with embodimentsof the present invention, however, have the ability to route the datastream to other communications systems (e.g., 50B or 50C) over asuitable connection 410C. As previously described, such systems may becoupled via an ethernet or LAN type connection, an IP or otherconnection, which preferably supports packetized transmissions. Thus, apacketized communication/data stream may be received by a firstcommunications system, which may depacketize and process thecommunication/data stream, or forward without depacketizing to a secondcommunications system, which may depacketize and process thecommunication/data stream, or forward without depacketizing to a thirdcommunications system, and so on. In this manner VolP othercommunications may be achieved with a plurality of communicationssystems, with a reduced latency over systems that, for example, mustdepacketize, decompress,. etc. the data stream before it is provided toanother computer or system. Thus, a data stream may be routed by onecommunications system to another without such additional processing.

It should be noted that communications systems 50 illustrated in FIGS.18 and 19, for example, also have coupled thereto a plurality ofcomputers, telephones, etc., as previously described for purposes ofgenerating, receiving various data streams, etc., although such detailshave not been shown for ease of description.

As described elsewhere herein, various voice mail type options may bepresented to users of such communications systems in accordance with thepresent invention. One such advantageous voice mail option provided inaccordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention includeadvanced email or voice mail-type broadcasts of desired messages. A usermay decide to send a voice mail or email to some or all users of thecommunication system. With a suitable office attendant-type orcompanion-type program, for example, a user may select from a grouplist, etc., a desired group of persons to receive the communication. Abroadcast voice mail, for example, could be input through the user'stelephone in a conventional manner, and routed (see FIG. 3) through, forexample, DSP 76 (via TDM bus 78, switch/multiplexer 74, etc.) whichconverts the voice mail message into an suitable data format, such aswhat is known as a WAV file, etc., and then sent via (for example)packet bus 80A and/or 80B to a plurality of computers. Communicationssystem 50 also, for example, can record which users have received or notreceived the communication so that users may later receive thecommunication (such as when they log on at a later time). In addition,communications system 50 also has the capability to parallely processthe communication as a message that is to be sent to persons via, forexample the Internet. Using an HDLC framer/deframer as is provided inaccordance with the present invention, a user may generate a voice mailor email communication that the communications system sends aspacketized data over the LAN to recipients recognized to be users havinga computer on the LAN, while generating a suitable HDLC or ATM framedcommunication to recipients who are reachable over the WAN, such as overthe Internet or other IP connection, etc.

Described elsewhere herein are embodiments in which visualrepresentations of pink slips or yellow stick-ons are generated torepresent net messages, etc. This concept, in other embodiments, isextended also to voice mail and email messages. While not expresslyillustrated, it should be understood that the present invention includesthe ability to convert voice information (including voice mail typemessages) into a suitable data format so that it may be delivered overthe WAN or LAN to various computers coupled to communications system 50.Similarly, communications system 50 has the capability also to serve asan email server (in addition to other functions, as described elsewhereherein). Thus, in conjunction with a suitable program running onparticular computers coupled to communications system 50, voice mailsmay be presented as data files to the various particular computers, andemails and net messages may similarly be presented to the variousparticular computers (such as described elsewhere herein). In certainalternate embodiments one, two or three visual “stacks” may bepresented, for example, with one stack constituting a visualrepresentation or a stack of voice mails (with suitable icons for play,pause, backward, forward, delete, file, freeze/hold, etc., as well asother icons analogous to those described for net messages), with asecond stack constituting a visual representation of a stack or netmessages (such as described elsewhere herein), and/or with a third stackconstituting a visual representation of a stack of email messages (withicons similar to those described for net messages, etc.). Such stackspreferably may be minimized or expanded, and desirably provide a unifiedvisual interface for a variety of communications, etc.

It also should be noted that DSP 76 is desirably utilized in accordancewith various embodiments of the present invention. Data streams may bedesirably coupled to a resource such as DSP 76 in order to have, forexample, processes such speech/voice recognition, text to speechconversion, speech to text conversion, compression, translation, etc.Thus, data streams from the LAN, WAN, modem, etc. may be desirablycoupled to resources such as DSP 76 to provide such processes.

It also should be noted that, in preferred embodiments, DSP 76 iscoupled to switch/multiplexer 74 in a manner so that it may “tap” intothe various TDM data streams. This provides a significant improvementover systems in which data streams must be directed into a resource suchas DSP 76, and then sent from DSP 76 over a separate channel, etc.(thereby utilizing two channels, etc.). In such embodiments, DSP 76 cantap into or monitor data streams on particular TDM channels and provide,for example, processing to accomplish recognition (voice or speech,etc.), detection (such as of a fax or modem call, etc.), compression(including compression, transcoding, streaming and storing, etc.),packetizing (such as to prepare a data format such as for an email,etc.). In one illustrative example of such embodiments, communicationssystem 50 may be programmed so that particular users (e.g., president,technical support, warranty claims line, etc.) automatically have voicemails stored as voice mails and also as an email or other data form.Thus, a voice call may be directed into voice mail, while DSP 76concurrently processes the voice data stream into another form (e.g.,email, data file, etc.), which may be stored, sent over the WAN or LAN,etc. Having DSP 76, and particularly configured (such as withswitch/multiplexer 74) so as to tap into the various channels, providessignificant advantages in a variety of applications.

Referring now to FIG. 20, an embodiment of the present inventionincluding a backup communications capability will now be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, backup communication module 416 preferably isprovided in communications system 50. In the illustrated embodiment,backup communication module 416 is coupled to bus 414, which may be apart of processor/system resources 70 (such as, for example, bus 408 ofFIG. 3A, etc.), and may be a ISA or PCI-type of bus, etc. Coupled to bus414 are other components of communications system 50, such as bus 84,buffer/framer 72, switch/multiplexer 74, buses 86, 90 and 78, cards 82,WAN services 58, etc. In general, the various components discussed inconnection with FIG. 3 are applicable with embodiments incorporatingbackup communication module 416, although such components are notillustrated in FIG. 20.

Backup communications module 416 preferably includes bus interface 420for coupling information to/from bus 414, memory 424 for storing variousinformation, as will described hereinafter, CPU 418, FLASH or otherprogrammable memory 426, and modem or other communication unit 428.Module 416 preferably includes a standby or backup power supply 434,although in certain alternate embodiments communication unit 428 iscoupled to, for example, link 430 of WAN services 58E, which may be adedicated telephone line, POTS line, etc., which provides sufficientpower to module 416 so that power supply 434 is not required. In suchalternate embodiments, the various components of module 416 areimplemented in low power CMOS technology or the like, and consumesufficiently low amounts of power so that module 434 may operate at asuitable speed in order to provide backup communications using only thepower provided by link 430, such as, for example, in the event of apower failure in communications system 50 or the office in whichcommunications system 50 is located, etc.

Preferably, memory 424 receives and stores via bus interface 420 avariety of information regarding the status and operation ofcommunications system 50. For example, memory 424 may store power-onself test data (i.e., status, trace or other information generatedduring power-on, boot-up, etc.), SNMP data for the PBX, WAN resources,voice mail, LAN resources, etc.), monitor or trace data (such asdescribed elsewhere herein). Preferably, module 416 receives periodicupdates from communications system 50, including information sufficientto debug, reboot, etc., communications system 50. Various trace,monitoring, diagnostic or other information may be made available tomodule 416 for storage in memory 424.

The data in memory 424 preferably is organized in a hierarchical manner,with, for example, various levels of information. Certain informationmay be so critical that it is retained in memory 424 until deleted(e.g., a level 1 category of information, such as critical fault data,etc.). Other information may be retained for a predetermined period oftime and then purged, unless, for example, a level 1 event has occurred(e.g., a level 2 category of information). Still other information maybe retained for a predetermined period of time (the same as or differentfrom the level 2 period) and then purged, etc. What is important is thata variety of information be provided to memory 424 and hierarchicallyretained, which less critical information periodically purged in orderto make room for additional information in memory 424, etc.

Still preferably, CPU 418 executes what is know as a watch dog timer(WDT) function. In preferred embodiments, a fault monitoring subsystemof communications system 50 periodically provides a signal/updateindicative of the status of communications system 50 (e.g., normal,active, ok, etc.). In the event that such a signal or information is notprovided in a predetermined interval of time, CPU 418 may recognize thisevent as an abnormality and begin a process to communicate withcommunications system 50, and/or initiate a remote communication such asover communications unit 428 in order to alert a remote user or systemof the abnormality, etc.

Preferably, FLASH or other programmable memory 426 is provided in module416. Memory 426 preferably stores operational programs for module 416,including, for example, diagnostic, debug, monitor or other routines inorder to facilitate a debug, reboot, etc. of communications system 50.Preferably, the algorithms and/or programs in memory 426 may beperiodically updated, either over bus 422, but preferably through link430 and communications unit 428. Programming of memory 426 remotely,such as over communications unit 428, enables a remote technician, forexample, more flexibility in remotely monitoring, debugging, rebooting,etc. communications system 50.

As previously described, module 416 preferably has a dedicate line(e.g., a POTS line) for such backup communications, and telephone 12optionally may be coupled to such line for emergency voice calls or thelike, etc. In alternate embodiments, however, communications unit isalso (or alternatively) coupled to channels of TDM bus 78. In certainembodiments, a predetermined channel or channels of TDM bus 78 arededicated for such backup communications. In other embodiments,communication unit 428 is coupled to TDM bus 78 through switch 432, andin such embodiments dedicated TDM channels are not required.

As will be appreciated, information contained in memory 424 may beremotely viewed, either through communications unit 428 or through aconnection established through buses 422 and 414, etc. Bus interface 420enables data transmissions to/from module 416 when communications system50 is operating in a normal manner, while also having the ability toisolate module 416 from bus 414 in the event of a serious abnormality incommunications system 50. It also should be noted that communicationsunit 428 preferably is a modem, but communications unit 428 also couldconsist of a signaling device to a pager or other wireless communicationdevice, or could be a unit for establishing IP or other packetcommunications, etc. What is important is that communications unit 428have capability to transmit desired information over the choice mediumfor link 430 in order to provide desirable backup communications andmonitoring of communications system 50 in accordance with the presentinvention.

In accordance with such embodiments, the remote user may configuretracing in desirable and flexible manner. Through the use of tracefilters, various software components and drivers in effect may be toldwhat trace information to provide, which information is preferablyprovided to a central storage location in communications system 50 andmade available in real time or by file access to such a remote user.

Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention havebeen disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and/or substitutionsare possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the presentinvention as disclosed in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a system for managing voice and datacommunications of an office, wherein the system is coupled to at leastone telecommunications network, the office having a plurality ofcomputers coupled to the system over at least one packet bus and aplurality of telephones coupled to the system over at least one timedivision multiplex (TDM) bus, wherein the at least one TDM bus isselectively coupled to the at least one packet bus and the at least onetelecommunications network, wherein the system provides voice and datacommunications to a plurality of users in the office, wherein associatedwith at least a first user is at least a first computer and at least afirst telephone, a method comprising the steps of: selectively couplingpacket-based communications to or from the at least one packet bus fromor to the at least one telecommunications network via the at least oneTDM bus; receiving telephone calls for users in the office from the atleast one telecommunications network, wherein voice communications occurover the at least one TDM bus; recording in voice mail of the system oneor more voice messages for the first user based on one or more receivedtelephone calls and coupled to voice mail via the at least one TDM bus;receiving one or more electronic messages for the first user from the atleast one telecommunications network via the at least one TDM bus;storing one or more electronic messages for the first user in thesystem; providing an indication to the first user via the firsttelephone that the first user has received one or more electronicmessages for the first user; and providing the one or more electronicmessages to the first user over the at least one packet bus; wherein thesystem provides voice communications from the one or more telephonesover the at least one TDM bus and packet-based communications over theat least one packet bus, wherein voice communications that stay in acircuit-switched form in the system occur over the TDM bus and the atleast one telecommunications network, and wherein packet-basedcommunications are concurrently coupled to the at least onetelecommunications network via the TDM bus.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising the step of providing an indication to the first uservia the first telephone that the first user has received one or morevoice messages.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providingan indication to the first user via the first telephone that the firstuser has received one or more electronic messages for the first useralso provides an indication to the first user via the first telephonethat the first user has received one or more voice messages.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the indication is provided visually.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, wherein the indication indicates whether the firstuser has electronic messages, voice messages, both electronic messagesand voice messages or neither electronic messages nor voice messages. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is provided audibly. 7.The method of claim 6, wherein the indication indicates whether thefirst user has electronic messages, voice messages, both electronicmessages and voice messages or neither electronic messages nor voicemessages.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is providedwith a message indicator.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein theindication indicates whether the first user has electronic messages,voice messages, both electronic messages and voice messages or neitherelectronic messages nor voice messages.
 10. The method of claim 8,wherein the indicator comprises a lamp.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the indication indicates whether the first user has electronicmessages, voice messages, both electronic messages and voice messages orneither electronic messages nor voice messages.
 12. The method of claim10, wherein the indication is provided by a blinking sequence.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the indication indicates whether the firstuser has electronic messages, voice messages, both electronic messagesand voice messages or neither electronic messages nor voice messages.14. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is provided by a dialtone.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the indication indicateswhether the first user has electronic messages, voice messages, bothelectronic messages and voice messages or neither electronic messagesnor voice messages.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the dial tone isgenerated by a digital signal processor in the system.
 17. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the indication is provided by an audible message. 18.The method of claim 17, wherein the indication indicates whether thefirst user has electronic messages, voice messages, both electronicmessages and voice messages or neither electronic messages nor voicemessages.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the audible message isgenerated by a digital signal processor in the system.